Abstract: Most of the cervical lymph node metastasis comes from thyroid cancer and squamous cell carcinoma of different regions of the neck. Origin of the primary cancer could be general speculated based on the first metastatic station site. The metastatic lymph nodes of squamous cell carcinoma and thyroid carcinoma have their own characteristics. These metastatic lymph nodes need to be differentiated from lymph node inflammatory changes, tuberculosis, lymphoma, Castleman’s disease, and soft tissue tumors.

Key words: Neck, Lymph node, Differential diagnosis