Lateral Neck Lump Flashcards
What are the possible causes of a lateral neck lump?
- Artery
- Nerves
- Lymphatics
- Lymph nodes
- Salivary glands
- Larynx
- Pharynx
- Branchial arch remnant
- Skin/ superficial subcutaneous
- Muscles/ cartilage/ bone
What are the arterial reasons for a lateral neck lump?
- carotid artery aneurysm
- subclavian artery aneurysm
- carotid body tumour
What are the nerve reasons for a lateral neck lump?
- neurofibroma
- shwannoma
What are the lymphatic reasons for a lateral neck lump?
-lymphatic malformations
What are the lymph node reasons for a lateral neck lump?
- infective
- neoplastic (primary or metastic)
- granulomatous
What are the salivary gland reasons for a lateral neck lump?
- infective
- autoimmune
- neoplastic
What are the laryngeal reasons for a lateral neck lump?
laryngocele
What are the pharynx reasons for a lateral neck lump?
pharyngeal pouch
What are the branchial arch remnant reasons for a lateral neck lump?
branchial cyst/sinus/fistula
What are the skin/superficial subcutaneous reasons for a lateral neck lump?
- lipoma
- epidermal cyst
- abscess
- dermoid cyst
What are the muscle/cartilage/bone reasons for a lateral neck lump?
- Sarcomas
- cervical rub
- torticollis
If a child presents with a lateral neck lump what do you think?
- usually benign
- congenital and inflammatory lumps
What are common differentials for children with a lateral neck lump?
- branchial cleft cysts
- lympahtic malformations
- lympahenitis
What are the malignant causes in a child with a lateral neck lumP?
- Lymphoma
- Sarcoma
- Papillary thyroid carcinoma
If a patient is over 40 with a lateral neck lump what do you think?
absence of sings of infection a lateral neck mass in an adult is lypmphadeopathy due to metastatic carcinoma until proven otherwise
If the lateral neck lump has been there for less than a few weeks what would you suspect?
infective or inflammatory lymphadenopathy
If the lateral neck lump has been there for more than a few weeks what would you suspect?
exclude malignancy
If the lateral neck lump has been there for years with little change what would you suspect?
likely benign