are frequently encountered among both children and adults
a detailed history and a thorough physical examination is necessary
key points in the history and examination are
age
site
size
duration of the mass
causes of neck swellings seen in different age groups include (1)
children - congenital masses, like branchial anomalies (branchial cleft cyst or sinus) and thyroglossal duct cysts (2)
young adults- inflammatory and infectious neck masses e.g. cervical adenitis
older adults - benign and malignant neoplasms (1)
congenital anomalies, which are more common in children, should also be considered in the differential diagnosis of neck masses in adults (1)
only swellings which are deep to the deep cervical fascia are specific to the neck
the deep cervical fascia envelopes the sternocleidomastoid muscles
tensing of these muscles will tend to obscure deeper masses
techniques for evaluating these masses include (1)
fine-needle aspiration and biopsy (cytology)
contrast-enhanced computed tomographic scanning
References:
Pynnonen M et al. Clinical Practice Guideline: Evaluation of the Neck Mass in Adults. Practice Guideline. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2017 Sep;157(2_suppl):S1-S30.
Meier J. Evaluation and management of neck masses in children. Am Fam Physician. 2014 Mar 1;89(5):353-8.
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