neck lumps Flashcards
Thyroglossal cyst
congenital
a connection between the tongue and thyroid gland causing a midline mass.
smooth, non-tender
the midline of the neck, below the cricoid cartilage. forarmen cecum (tongue) defends down to form the thyroid (connection between tongue and thyroid that shouldn’t be there)
rises / moves upwards when patient protrudes the tongue or swallows
*thyroglossal duct connects the tongue to the thyroid gland
7% of the population, most commonly presents in childhood.
<20 y/o
palpable, painless, mobile and midline
moves up with tongue potrusion
can be painful if infected
referral to ENT
Sistrunk procedure
surgical removal if causing difficulty breathing/swallowing/recurrent infection
lipoma
benign soft tissue tumour in the neck
asymptomatic
soft, poorly defined masses deep to the skin
cystic hygroma
posterior triangle of the neck bordered by the SCM, trapezius and the clavicle
congenital
cystic (sometimes translucent) lymphatic lesion
occurs in the posterior triangle of the neck
occurs in 1% of children
no particular gender or ethnic preponderance. (birth/before 2 years old)
can be seen on antenatal ultrasounds in pregnancy
found in neck / axillae
soft painless swelling
sclerotherapy or surgical removal
branchial cyst
congenital epithelial cyst
lateral (anterior border, SCM) from the midline
failure of the obliteration of the second branchial cleft in embryonic development
painless and slow growing smooth fluctuant lateral neck (SCM) unilateral can increase in size and painful if infected does not transiulluminate does not move when swallowing
young adult
referral to ENT, abx if abscess or infection, excision
USS FNA to exclude cancer
aspirate- cholesterol crystals
surgically remove
become more apparent when infected e.g. following an URTI
ranula
mucocele in the floor of the mouth originating form the sublingual glands
clear / bluish cyst
floor of the mouth (mylohyoid)
- blocked duct causes swelling
- ruptured cyst leading to extravasation of mucin
acquired benign neck mass
childhood / early adulthood
tx: surgical excision
laryngocele
acquired benign neck mass
rare
the air-filled cyst can bulge internally into the larynx or externally into the neck (or both if the connection is between the thyrohyoid membrane)
intermittent neck swelling
palpable when Valsalva is performed
wind instrument players/glassblowers
air pocket arising from the deepest point of the laryngeal ventricle
tx: surgical excision (endoscopic or external approach)
pharyngeal pouch
acquired benign neck mass
pharyngeal pouch
acquired benign neck mass
palpable lump in the neck that can appear with meals or on examination
more common in older men
dysphagia can occur
regurgitation
halitosis
gurgling
neck lumps which are actually part of the normal anatomy
transverse process of c1 vertebra
hyoid bone
thyroid / cricoid cartilage
investigations for neck lumps
bloods (FBC, U+E’s, CRP)
plain neck radiograph
ultrasound scan imaging
- thyroid lump/swelling= nodular or diffuse
- inflammatory/lymphadenopathy
- malignat lesion
- normal anatomical structures
management of neck lumps
if symptoms of stridor or SVC obsturction admit immediately
consider admission if dysphagia, aspiration or signs of sepsis
urgent referral for suspected cancer
unexplaiend neck lump in >45 y/o
persistent and unexplained neck lump <45 y/o
referral for ultrasound
unexplained lump increasing in size
> 25 y/o 2 weeks
suspected cancer pathway if US findings uncertain or suggestive of soft tissue sarcoma
urgent ultrasound appointment (48hrs) for children and young peple
acute parotitis
painful pre-auricular swelling
globus pharyngeus
a sensation of a lump at the back of the throat, painless.
anxiety, pharyngeal spasm, reflux, hiatus hernia
