[Methods and advances in the research of lymphatics in the head and neck].

The lymphatic system plays an important role in human health and disease. In addition to a role in the immune response, the lymphatics can also serve as a pathway for cancer metastasis.Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is one of the most common cancers.In the case where the primary focus has been controlled, cervical lymph node metastasis is one of the most important factors affecting the prognosis of head and neck cancer.Thus, understanding the anatomy of the lymphatic system is of paramount importance in predicting cancer metastasis and to perform proper lymph node dissection in cancer patients.The objective of this review is to summarize current imaging approaches that facilitate both basic science and clinical investigations of lymphatic vasculature.Mutation analysis of the laryngeal lymphatic system may provide a theoretical basis for the diagnosis and treatment of HNSCC.