Clinical identification of head and neck lymphadenopathy: a diagnostic obligation.

The purpose of this article is to reinforce the need for all dental clinicians to perform a complete lymph node examination on every patient, regardless of age, gender, or chief complaint. As early diagnosis provides for the best prognosis, head and neck lymph node palpation may be the earliest indicator of infection or neoplasia. This article provides the rationale for lymph node examination, the palpation techniques for the clinician to utilize, and the anatomic locations and descriptions of lymph nodes.