A pain in the neck: cervical lymphadenopathy in metastatic disease

Abstract

Cervical lymphadenopathy can serve as a silent progressive indicator of systemic pathology and metastatic disease. Incidental or asymptomatic cervical lymphadenopathy can present a clinical dilemma when deciding on appropriate referral pathways and in specialist investigations. Metastasis to the head and neck may be more easily identified than locating the primary tumour site, which often requires a multitude of investigations to achieve an accurate diagnosis. As highlighted in this case report, primary care dentists play a central role in identification of patients with cervical lymphadenopathy who may require urgent specialist input in the context of subclavicular disease. CPD/Clinical Relevance: This article highlights the clinical assessment of cervical lymphadenopathy and the investigatory tools used in secondary care to facilitate diagnosis.