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Diagnostic Pathology: Head and Neck

  • 4th Edition - June 30, 2026
  • Latest edition
  • Author: Lester D.R. Thompson
  • Language: English

This expert volume in the Diagnostic Pathology series is an excellent point-of-care resource for practitioners at all levels of experience and training. Covering a broad array o… Read more

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Description

This expert volume in the Diagnostic Pathology series is an excellent point-of-care resource for practitioners at all levels of experience and training. Covering a broad array of entities pathologists are most likely to encounter when diagnosing and treating head and neck disorders, it incorporates the most recent clinical, pathological, and molecular knowledge in the field to provide a comprehensive overview of all key issues relevant to today’s practice. Succinctly written, richly illustrated, and easy to use, Diagnostic Pathology: Head and Neck, fourth edition, is a one-stop reference for accurate, complete pathology reports, ideal as a day-to-day reference or as a reliable training resource.

Key features

  • Includes the diagnostic criteria, pertinent ancillary studies, and thorough, reciprocal differential diagnoses necessary for general pathologists, oral pathologists, and head and neck pathologists to make accurate diagnoses in this difficult field
  • Reflects recent developments in ancillary studies and molecular testing that are useful in reaching a diagnosis
  • Uses a newly streamlined layout for ease and speed of use at the point of care, employing a practical, intuitive structure that organizes sections and chapters by anatomic region and frequency of diagnosis as seen in actual practice
  • Contains more than 370 consistently templated, image-rich chapters in a format that facilitates quick comparison between diagnoses with concise, bulleted text; Key Facts in each chapter; and an extensive index for easy reference
  • Includes commentary to aid in definitive classification when molecular findings are required for a diagnosis
  • Features more than 3,400 high-quality print images (with an additional 3,800+ images in the complimentary eBook), including gross pathology and clinical photographs, radiology images, histology images, full-color medical illustrations, immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization and molecular images—all carefully annotated to help you quickly recognize established entities
  • Contains significantly updated information on the standardization of neuroendocrine neoplasm (NEN) reporting, and criteria required for risk stratification
  • Covers newly classified entities from the 2024 WHO Classification of Head and Neck Tumours along with other national standardized reporting guidelines
  • Includes an eBook version that provides access to everything in the book as well as additional text, figures, and references, with the ability to search, customize your content, make notes and highlights, and have content read aloud

Readership

Pathologists at all levels of training

Table of contents

SECTION 1: NASAL CAVITY AND PARANASAL SINUSES

Nose and Paranasal Sinuses

CONGENITAL/GENETIC/HEREDITARY

Nasal Neuroglial Heterotopia
Nasal Dermoid Cyst and Sinus

INFECTIOUS

Invasive Fungal Rhinosinusitis
Mycetoma
Rhinoscleroma
Rhinosporidiosis
Mycobacterium leprae Infection

INFLAMMATORY-IMMUNE DYSFUNCTION

Chronic Rhinosinusitis With Nasal Polyps
Chronic Rhinosinusitis Without Nasal Polyps
Antrochoanal Polyp
Granulomatosis With Polyangiitis
Eosinophilic Angiocentric Fibrosis

REACTIVE AND HAMARTOMAS

Mucocele of Paranasal Sinus
Myospherulosis
Sinonasal Hamartoma
Nasal Chondromesenchymal Hamartoma

BENIGN NEOPLASM

Sinonasal Papilloma
Pleomorphic Adenoma, Sinonasal Tract
Ameloblastoma, Sinonasal Tract
Ectopic Pituitary Neuroendocrine Tumor
Meningioma, Sinonasal Tract
Lobular Capillary Hemangioma (Pyogenic Granuloma)
Sinonasal Tract Angiofibroma
Leiomyoma and Smooth Muscle Tumors of Uncertain Malignant Potential
Schwannoma/Neurofibroma, Sinonasal Tract
Solitary Fibrous Tumor, Sinonasal Tract
Fibromatosis/Desmoid-Type Fibromatosis

BORDERLINE NEOPLASM

Glomangiopericytoma, Sinonasal Tract
Rosai-Dorfman Disease

MALIGNANT NEOPLASM

Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Sinonasal Tract
AFF2-Rearranged Carcinoma
NUT Carcinoma
SWI/SNF Complex-Deficient Sinonasal Carcinomas
Lymphoepithelial Carcinoma, Sinonasal Tract
Sinonasal Undifferentiated Carcinoma
Germ Cell Tumors of Head and Neck
Teratocarcinosarcoma
HPV-Related Multiphenotypic Sinonasal Carcinoma
Sinonasal Adenocarcinoma, Intestinal Type
Sinonasal Nonintestinal-Nonsalivary Adenocarcinoma
Sinonasal Renal Cell-Like Adenocarcinoma
Olfactory Neuroblastoma
Sinonasal Neuroendocrine Carcinoma
Mucosal Melanoma, Sinonasal Tract
Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma, Sinonasal Tract
Ewing Sarcoma, Including Sinonasal Adamantinoma-Like
Biphenotypic Sinonasal Sarcoma
Leiomyosarcoma, Sinonasal Tract
Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumor, Sinonasal Tract
Spindle Cell Neoplasm With Kinase Fusion
Fibrosarcoma, Sinonasal Tract
Angiosarcoma, Sinonasal Tract
Undifferentiated Pleomorphic Sarcoma, Sinonasal Tract
Extranodal NK-/T-Cell Lymphoma, Nasal Type
Metastatic/Secondary Tumors, Sinonasal Tract

SECTION 2: PHARYNX (NASAL, HYPO)

Pharynx

CONGENITAL/GENETIC/HEREDITARY

Tornwaldt Cyst
Rathke Cleft Cyst

BENIGN NEOPLASM

Hairy Polyp
Dermoid

MALIGNANT NEOPLASM

Low-Grade Nasopharyngeal Papillary Adenocarcinoma
Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma, Nonkeratinizing Type
Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma, Keratinizing Type
Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma, Basaloid Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma, NOS

SECTION 3: LARYNX AND TRACHEA

Larynx

CONGENITAL/GENETIC/HEREDITARY

Laryngocele and Laryngeal Cysts
Tracheopathia Osteoplastica

INFECTIOUS

Laryngitis: Viral, Bacterial, Fungal

REACTIVE

Vocal Cord Nodules and Polyps
Reactive Epithelial Changes
Contact Ulcer

BENIGN NEOPLASM

Squamous Papilloma, Larynx
Granular Cell Tumor, Larynx
Adult Rhabdomyoma
Chondroma, Larynx

BORDERLINE NEOPLASM

Amyloid (Amyloidoma)
EBV-Associated Smooth Muscle Tumor
Inflammatory Myofibroblastic Tumor
Paraganglioma, Larynx

MALIGNANT NEOPLASM

Keratinizing Dysplasia and Carcinoma In Situ, Larynx
Conventional Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Larynx
Spindle Cell Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Papillary Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Lymphoepithelial Carcinoma, Larynx and Trachea
Basaloid Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Adenosquamous Carcinoma
Neuroendocrine Neoplasms, Larynx
Chondrosarcoma, Larynx
Metastatic/Secondary Tumors, Larynx and Trachea

SECTION 4: ORAL CAVITY

Oral Mucosae
Tongue

CONGENITAL/GENETIC/HEREDITARY

Ectopic (Lingual) Thyroid
White Sponge Nevus
Juxtaoral Organ of Chievitz
Heterotopic Salivary Glands

INFECTIOUS

Oral Infections
Oral Syphilis
Multifocal Epithelial Hyperplasia (Heck Disease)
Oral Hairy Leukoplakia
EBV-Associated Mucocutaneous Ulcer

INFLAMMATORY-IMMUNE DYSFUNCTION

Recurrent Aphthous Stomatitis
Oral Lichen Planus
Pemphigus Vulgaris
Mucous Membrane Pemphigoid
Erythema Multiforme
Lupus Erythematosus

REACTIVE

Frictional Hyperkeratosis
Pseudoepitheliomatous Hyperplasia
Necrotizing Sialometaplasia
Traumatic Ulcerative Granuloma With Stromal Eosinophilia
Giant Cell Fibroma
Amalgam Tattoo
Tobacco Changes

NONNEOPLASTIC LESIONS

Fordyce Granules
Caliber Persistent Artery
Mucocele and Ranula
Verruciform Xanthoma
Hairy Tongue
Geographic Tongue

BENIGN NEOPLASM

Fibroma, Oral Cavity
Pyogenic Granuloma
Peripheral Ossifying Fibroma
Peripheral Giant Cell Granuloma
Squamous Papilloma (Including Verruca and Condyloma)
Neuromas
Solitary Circumscribed Neuroma
Acquired Melanocytic Nevus
Melanoacanthoma
Oral Lymphangioma
Teratoma, Oral Cavity

BORDERLINE NEOPLASM

Granular Cell Tumor, Oral Cavity
Congenital Granular Cell Epulis
Melanotic Neuroectodermal Tumor of Infancy
Ectomesenchymal Chondromyxoid Tumor
Juvenile Xanthogranuloma

MALIGNANT NEOPLASM

Oral Epithelial Dysplasia
Submucous Fibrosis
Proliferative Verrucous Leukoplakia
Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Oral Cavity
Verrucous Carcinoma
Mucosal Melanoma, Oral Cavity
Kaposi Sarcoma, Oral Cavity
Angiosarcoma, Oral Cavity
Low-Grade Myofibroblastic Sarcoma
Extraskeletal Myxoid Chondrosarcoma
Primary Mucosal CD30 (+) T-Cell
Lymphoproliferative Disorder
Metastatic/Secondary Tumors: Oral Cavity; Jaw

SECTION 5: OROPHARYNX INFECTIOUS

Infectious Mononucleosis
HIV Infection of Tonsils and Adenoids

REACTIVE

Lymphangiomatous Polyp

MALIGNANT NEOPLASM

GLI1-Altered Soft Tissue Tumor
Oropharyngeal Carcinoma
Large B-Cell Lymphoma With IRF4 Rearrangements

SECTION 6: SALIVARY GLANDS

Major Salivary Glands

INFECTIOUS

HIV Salivary Gland Disease

INFLAMMATORY-IMMUNE DYSFUNCTION

Lymphoepithelial Lesions
Lymphoepithelial Sialadenitis
Sjögren Disease
IgG₄-Related Salivary Gland Disease

REACTIVE

Oncocytosis (Oncocytic Hyperplasia)
Sialolithiasis

BENIGN NEOPLASM

Pleomorphic Adenoma, Salivary Gland
Myoepithelioma
Basal Cell Adenoma
Warthin Tumor
Oncocytoma
Canalicular Adenoma
Cystadenoma
Ductal Papillomas
Salivary Gland Adenoma: Lymphadenoma, Sebaceous Lymphadenoma, and Sebaceous Adenoma
Intercalated Duct Adenoma
Sclerosing Polycystic Adenoma
Keratocystoma
Sialolipoma
Hemangioma, Salivary Gland

BORDERLINE NEOPLASM

Sialoblastoma

MALIGNANT NEOPLASM

Mucoepidermoid Carcinoma, Salivary
Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma
Acinic Cell Carcinoma
Secretory Carcinoma, Salivary Gland
Microsecretory Adenocarcinoma
Microcribriform Adenocarcinoma
Palisading Adenocarcinoma
Polymorphous Adenocarcinoma, Low-Grade Subtype
Polymorphous Adenocarcinoma, Cribriform Subtype
Hyalinizing Clear Cell Carcinoma
Sclerosing Microcystic Adenocarcinoma
Basal Cell Adenocarcinoma
Intraductal Carcinoma, Salivary
Salivary Duct Carcinoma
Myoepithelial Carcinoma
Epithelial-Myoepithelial Carcinoma
Carcinoma Ex-Pleomorphic Adenoma
Mucinous Adenocarcinoma
Lymphoepithelial Carcinoma, Salivary Gland
Sebaceous Carcinoma and Sebaceous Lymphadenocarcinoma
Adenocarcinoma, NOS
Small Cell Neuroendocrine Carcinoma, Salivary Gland
Lymphoma, Salivary Gland
Metastatic/Secondary Tumors, Salivary Glands

SECTION 7: JAW

Teeth

CONGENITAL/GENETIC/HEREDITARY

Cherubism

REACTIVE/INFECTIOUS

Tori
Osteomyelitis
Osteonecrosis
Paget Disease of Bone

JAW CYSTS

Simple Bone Cyst
Pseudocysts and Surgical Ciliated Cysts of Jaw
Radicular Cyst/Periapical Granuloma
Nasopalatine Duct Cyst
Gingival Cyst of Adult
Inflammatory Collateral Cysts
Parulis
Dentigerous Cyst
Orthokeratinized Odontogenic Cyst
Lateral Periodontal Cyst
Calcifying Odontogenic Cyst
Glandular Odontogenic Cyst
Odontogenic Keratocyst

BENIGN NEOPLASM

Adenomatoid Odontogenic Tumor
Squamous Odontogenic Tumor
Calcifying Epithelial Odontogenic Tumor
Ameloblastoma, Unicystic
Ameloblastoma, Jaw
Odontoma (Complex and Compound)
Primordial Odontogenic Tumor
Ameloblastic Fibroma/Fibroodontoma
Odontogenic Myxoma
Cementoosseous Dysplasia
Fibrous Dysplasia
Central Odontogenic Fibroma
Cementoossifying Fibroma
Cementoblastoma
Juvenile Trabecular Ossifying Fibroma
Psammomatoid Ossifying Fibroma
Central Giant Cell Granuloma
Osteoma
Osteoblastoma

MALIGNANT NEOPLASM

Sclerosing Odontogenic Carcinoma
Ameloblastic Carcinoma
Clear Cell Odontogenic Carcinoma
Ghost Cell Odontogenic Carcinoma
Odontogenic Sarcoma
Osteosarcoma, Jaw
Chondrosarcoma, Jaw
Mesenchymal Chondrosarcoma, Jaw
Rhabdomyosarcoma With TFCP2 Rearrangement
Plasma Cell Myeloma, Jaw

SECTION 8: EAR AND TEMPORAL BONE

Ear

CONGENITAL/GENETIC/HEREDITARY

Accessory Tragus
Encephalocele
First Branchial Cleft Anomaly

INFECTIOUS

Otitis Media
Necrotizing Otitis Externa

INFLAMMATORY-IMMUNE DYSFUNCTION

Chondrodermatitis Nodularis Chronica Helicis
Otic Polyp
Relapsing Polychondritis

DEGENERATIVE

Cystic Chondromalacia (Auricular Pseudocyst)
Otosclerosis

METABOLIC

Gout

REACTIVE

Exostosis
Keloid
Synovial Chondromatosis (Temporomandibular Joint)

BENIGN NEOPLASM

Epithelioid Hemangioma
Ceruminous Adenoma
Cholesteatoma
Meningioma, Ear and Temporal Bone
Middle Ear Papilloma
Middle Ear Neuroendocrine Tumor
Endolymphatic Sac Tumor
Vestibular Schwannoma

BORDERLINE NEOPLASM

Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis, Ear and Temporal Bone
Paraganglioma (Jugulotympanic)

MALIGNANT NEOPLASM

Atypical Fibroxanthoma
Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Subtypes, Ear and Temporal Bone
Basal Cell Carcinoma
Merkel Cell Carcinoma
Dermatofibrosarcoma Protuberans
Ceruminous Adenocarcinoma
Rhabdomyosarcoma, Ear and Temporal Bone
Metastatic/Secondary Tumors, Ear and Temporal Bone

SECTION 9: NECK (SOFT TISSUE AND LYMPH NODES)

Lymph Nodes

CONGENITAL/GENETIC/HEREDITARY

Branchial Cleft Cyst
Dermoid Cyst
Cervical Thymic Cyst
Bronchogenic Cyst

INFECTIOUS

Cat-Scratch Disease
Bacillary Angiomatosis
Mycobacterial Spindle Cell Pseudotumor

INFLAMMATORY-IMMUNE DYSFUNCTION

Sarcoidosis

REACTIVE

Nodular Fasciitis
Reactive Lymph Node Hyperplasia

BENIGN NEOPLASM

Lymphangioma, Neck
Lipoma
Spindle Cell Lipoma
Hibernoma
Lipoblastoma
Elastofibroma
Perineurioma
Fetal Rhabdomyoma
Nuchal-Type Fibroma
Branchioma

BORDERLINE

Carotid Body Paraganglioma

MALIGNANT NEOPLASM

Metastatic Cystic Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Epithelioid Hemangioendothelioma
Synovial Sarcoma
Chordoma
Liposarcoma

SECTION 10: THYROID GLAND

Thyroid Gland

CONGENITAL/GENETIC/HEREDITARY

Thyroglossal Duct Cyst
Ectopic Thyroid Gland
Solid Cell Nests
Dyshormonogenetic Goiter

INFECTIOUS

Infectious Thyroiditis

INFLAMMATORY-IMMUNE DYSFUNCTION

Palpation Thyroiditis
Subacute Granulomatous Thyroiditis (de Quervain)
Chronic Lymphocytic (Hashimoto) Thyroiditis
Graves Disease (Diffuse Hyperplasia)
Amyloid Goiter
IgG₄-Related Thyroiditis

REACTIVE

Multinodular Hyperplasia
Pigments and Crystals in Thyroid Gland
Post Thyroid Biopsy Changes
C-Cell Hyperplasia (Physiologic)
Radiation Thyroiditis

BENIGN NEOPLASM

Follicular Thyroid Adenoma
Follicular Adenoma With Papillary Architecture
Oncocytic Follicular Adenoma
Thyroid Teratoma
Leiomyoma, Thyroid Gland
Schwannoma, Thyroid Gland
Follicular Cell-Derived Lesions in Ectopic Locations (Struma Ovarii)

LOW-RISK NEOPLASM

Hyalinizing Trabecular Tumor
Noninvasive Follicular Thyroid Neoplasm With Papillary-Like Nuclei
Paraganglioma, Thyroid Gland
Solitary Fibrous Tumor, Thyroid Gland
Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis, Thyroid Gland

MALIGNANT NEOPLASM

Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma
Follicular Thyroid Carcinoma
Oncocytic Follicular Thyroid Carcinoma
High-Grade Follicular Cell-Derived Thyroid Carcinomas
Anaplastic/Undifferentiated Thyroid Carcinoma
Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma
Thyroblastoma
Mucoepidermoid Carcinoma, Thyroid Gland
Sclerosing Mucoepidermoid Carcinoma With Eosinophilia
Cribriform Morular Thyroid Carcinoma
Spindle Epithelial Tumor With Thymus-Like Elements
Thymic Carcinoma Family Thyroid Tumors
Angiosarcoma, Thyroid Gland
Leiomyosarcoma, Thyroid Gland
Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumor, Thyroid Gland
Follicular Dendritic Cell Sarcoma, Thyroid Gland
Lymphoma, Thyroid Gland
Metastatic/Secondary Tumors, Thyroid Gland

SECTION 11: PARATHYROID GLANDS

Parathyroid

NONNEOPLASTIC

Parathyroid Hyperplasia
Tertiary Hyperparathyroidism
Chronic Parathyroiditis

BENIGN NEOPLASM

Parathyroid Adenoma

MALIGNANT NEOPLASM
Parathyroid Carcinoma
Metastatic/Secondary Tumors, Parathyroid Gland

Product details

  • Edition: 4
  • Latest edition
  • Published: July 6, 2026
  • Language: English

About the author

LT

Lester D.R. Thompson

Affiliations and expertise
Head and Neck Pathology Consultations, Woodland Hills, California, USA