Neck Lumps Flashcards
Reactive lymphadenopathy
=> most common neck swelling
=> hx of local infection or generalised viral illness
Lymphoma
=> rubbery, painless lymphadenopathy
=> night sweats and splenomegaly
Thyroid swelling
=> may be hypo-, eu- or hyperthyroid symptomatically
=> moves upward on swallowing
Thyroglossal cyst
=> common in <20 year olds
=> midline between isthmus of the thyroid and hyoid bone
=> moves upwards with protrusion of the tongue
=> may be painful if infected
Thyroid develops from the floor of the pharynx and descends into the neck during development.
It is connected to the tongue by the thyroglossal duct - this normally atrophies but in some people may persist and give rise to thyroglossal duct cyst.
Pharyngeal pouch
=> common in older men
=> represents a posteromedial herniation between thyropharyngeus and cricopharyngeus muscles
= usually not seen but if large then midline lump in the neck gurgles with palpation
=> typical symptoms: dysphagia, regurgitation, aspiration, chronic cough, halitosis
Cystic hygroma
=> congenital lymphatic lesions (lymphangioma)
=> found in the neck, typically on left side + transilluminates
=> evident at birth; 90% present before age of 2
Cervical rib
=> extra rib that forms above the first rib, growing from the base of the neck just above the collarbone
=> more common in adult females
=> around 10% develop thoracic syndrome - when blood vessels or nerves in the space between your collarbone and your first rib (thoracic outlet) are compressed.
Carotid aneurysm
=> pulsatile lateral neck mass
=> doesn’t move on swallowing
Branchial cyst
=> oval, mobile cystic mass that develops between sternocleidomastoid muscle and the pharynx
=> develops due to failure of obliteration of the second branchial cleft in embryonic development
=> usually present in early adulthood
