Type
The best way to classify neck cancers is to determine if it is a cancer that started in the neck or if it has spread from another site. If the cancer started in the neck, it is called a primary neck cancer (see the primary neck cancer section for more information).
However, metastatic lymph nodes are by far the most common types of neck cancers. These are lymph nodes which contain cancer that originated from a different site in the body—usually the head and neck. Metastatic lymph nodes can also arise from tumors of the lung, breast and kidney. Learn more about metastatic lymph nodes.
Types of Metastatic Lymph Nodes
- Head and neck metastatic lymph nodes
These are lymph nodes containing cancer that have spread from a primary site in the head and neck region. - Distant metastatic lymph nodes
These are lymph nodes containing cancer that has spread from a primary site below the collarbones, such as the lungs, stomach, kidney, testicles or just about anywhere else.
