Neck lumps Flashcards
There are three descriptions to note the location of a neck lump. What are they?
- Anterior triangle
- Posterior triangle
- Midline
What are the borders of the anterior triangle?
- Mandible
- Midline of neck
- Sternocleidomastoid
What are the borders of the posterior triangle?
- Clavicle
- Trapezius
- Sternocleidomastoid
How can the causes of lymphadenopathy be classified?
- Reactive lymph nodes (e.g. viral URTI, tonsillitis)
- Infected (e.g. TB, infectious mononucleosis)
- Inflammatory (e.g. SLE, sarcoidosis)
- Malignancy (e.g. lymphoma, leukaemia, mets)
Give three causes of a goitre
- Grave’s disease (hyperthyroidism)
- Toxic multinodular goitre (hyperthyroidism)
- Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (hypothyroidism)
What is a goitre?
Generalised swelling of the thyroid gland
Give three causes of individual thyroid lumps
- Thyroid cysts
- Thyroid adenoma
- Thyroid carcinoma (papillary or follicular)
The three salivary gland locations are the…
- Parotid glands
- Submandibular glands
- Sublingual glands
The salivary glands can enlarge for three main reasons…
- Stones (sialolithiasis)
- Infection
- Tumours
What is the carotid body?
A structure located just above the carotid bifurcation, made up of glomus cells
Groups of glomus cells are known as
Paraganglia
How are carotid body tumours formed?
Excessive growth of glomus cells
Give two features of a carotid body tumour which can be found O/E
- Pulsatile
- Associated with a bruit on auscultation
Carotid body tumours may compress which nerves?
CN IX, X, XI, XII:
- Glossopharyngeal
- Vagus
- Accessory
- Hypoglossal
Compression of the vagus nerve by a carotid body tumour may produce which syndrome?
Horner’s syndrome:
- Ptosis
- Miosis (constriction)
- Anhidrosis
