Neck Lumps Flashcards
red flag symptoms for a neck lump
hard + fixed lump
associated otalgia, hoarseness, dysphagia, stridor
epistaxis / unilateral nasal congestion
unexplained weight loss, night sweats, fevers
cranial nerve palsies
what is the most common cause of a neck swelling
reactive lymphadenopathy
- increase in size of lymph node in response to infection
painless midline lump that moves upwards on protrusion of the tongue
thyroglossal cyst
what age to thyroglossal cysts usually present
<20 years old
management of a thyrogossal cyst
surgical removal
- risk of thyroglossal cysts becoming infected / fistula formation
soft, asymptomatic lump on lateral aspect of neck containing cholesterol crystals
branchial cyst
what is a branchial cyst
remnant of 2nd branchial cleft
features of a branchial cyst
smooth, non tender mass anterior to sternocleidomastoid
contains cholesterol crystals
management of a branchial cyst
surgical excision
painless fluctuant mass that transilluminates
cystic hygroma
where are cystic hygromas typically found
posterior triangle of the neck
axilla
what age does a cystic hygroma present
majority evident at birth
- most diagnosed by 2 years old
management of a cystic hygroma
surgical excision or injection of sclerosis agents
pulsatile painless neck lump with bruit on auscultation
carotid body tumour (carotid paraganlioma)
what is a carotid paraganglioma
benign neuroendocrine tumour that arrises from paraganglion cells of the carotid body
