Great auricular nerve: Anatomy and imaging in a case of perineural tumor spread

We present the imaging and clinical findings of a case of recurrent cutaneo us squamous cell carcinoma of the face in which CT and MR imaging revealed perineural tumor spread along the great auricular nerve. The great auricula r nerve is a superficial cutaneous branch of the cervical plexus, providing sensory innervation to the skin of the parotid and periauricular region. O ur purpose was to familiarize the reader with the anatomy of this nerve and imaging's potential role in the diagnosis of perineural tumor spread along this seldom seen structure.