Tumors of the face and neck, either inflammatory or neoplastic, are readily and frequently recognized early in their development because of the direct or mirrored asymmetries, disfigurements and symptoms they produce. Although they become evident in their incipiency, their "status quo" may often belie the extent of their spread and fail to betray the site of their origin. They may furtively appear with shocking suddenness or languidly ascend from an extensive growth hidden from view for a considerable time. Accordingly, while such tumors are frequently detected early, they always constitute a serious clinical and surgical problem.
As has been pointed out (Boyd,1), a certain degree of "regional classification may be of value." Midline tumors are frequently congenital; tumors of the anterior triangle are either metastatic carcinomas or tumors of the salivary glands; tumors of the posterior triangle are often primary tumors of the lymph nodes, such as lymphosarcoma and