Head and Neck Tumors

Abstract

The head and neck region is a complex part of the human body. The diagnosis of soft tissue lesions of the head and neck comprises a wide variety of pathologic entities. These lesions may originate from developmental problems or from benign or malignant neoplastic transformation of normal tissue. Developmental problems arise from disturbances of organogenesis, histogenesis, or functional maturation of the involved structures. Therefore, these lesions can appear at any time during life, usually caused by the interaction of factors such as the environment and genetics. This chapter highlights and discusses the most significant features for the diagnosis of epithelial and mesenchymal soft tissue tumors of the head and neck region, in addition to tumors of the temporomandibular joint. Tumors are divided into developmental tumors/tumorlike lesions, benign tumors, and malignant tumors and may have non-odontogenic, reactive, or neoplastic etiology.