CT is very suitable for showing cervical lymphatic spread in malignant tumors of the head and neck. The regional lymph-node areas of 123 patients with histologically proven malignant tumours of the oral cavity, hypopharynx and larynx were evaluated in a prospective study. Clinical examination, CT-findings and pathological work up of the surgical specimens were comparatively analysed in 53 patients. The proportion of false negative lymph-nodes on palpation was 21%. This error could be reduced by the use of CT to 7.5%.