Abstract
Neck masses can be classified into three main categories: congenital, inflammatory and neoplastic. Our aim was to determine the distribution of diagnosis in patients who were followed-up for a neck mass and had undergone surgery for diagnostic indications. Six hundred and thirty cases referred to the Otorhinolaryngology and Head Neck Surgery Department of Haseki Research and Training Hospital between January 2005 and February 2012 with a neck mass who underwent excisional or incisional biopsy to establish a histopathologic diagnosis were retrospectively evaluated. Patients with a diagnosis of upper aerodigestive tract malignancy were excluded from the study. As well as the patients with thyroid masses were excluded. Only unknown primary neck masses were included in the study. The neck masses were categorized as inflammatory (33.49 %), congenital (18.9 %) or neoplastic (47.6 %). Neoplastic masses were either benign (51 %) or malignant (49 %) tumors. The most common causes were tuberculous lymphadenitis (40.28 %) among inflammatory masses, thyroglossal duct cysts (32.77 %) among congenital masses, pleomorphic adenoma (22.33 %) among benign neoplastic masses, and lymphoma (20 %) among malignant neoplastic masses. The most common types of mass were congenital in the 0–20 year age group, benign neoplastic in 21–40-year-old and malignant neoplastic in the >40-year group. Any neck mass, especially in an elderly patient, should be managed with caution as a considerable proportion may be malignant. In children and adolescents, a neck mass requiring surgery is most likely to be congenital. Tuberculosis should be considered as a cause of a neck mass due to a long-term inflammatory process in a developing country.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Daves G, Duckert LG (1991) Embriology and anatomy of the head, neck, face, palate, nose and paranasal sinuses. Paparella MM, Otolaryngology, pp 59–107
McGuirt WF (2004) Differential diagnosis of neck masses. In: Cummings CW, Flint PW, Harker LA, Haughey BH et al (ed) Cummings Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, 3rd and 4th edn. Philadelphia, pp 2540–2553
Alvia A, Johnson JT (1995) The neck mass a challenging differantial diagnosis. Postgrad Med 97:87–90
Koempel JA, Maddalozzo J (1997) Evaluation of head and neck masses. Indian J Pediatr 64(6):771–776
Jeong WJ, Park MW, Park SJ, Ahn SH (2012) Initial work-up for cervical lymphadenopathy: back to basics. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 269(10):2255–2263
Goins MR, Beasley MS (2012) Pediatric neck masses. Oral Maxillofac Surg Clin North Am 24(3):457–468
Şapçı T, Bozkurt Z, Akbulut UG (1999) Analysis of neck masses. KBB ve Baş Boyun Cerrahisi Dergisi 7:143–146
Schroeder JW Jr, Mohyuddin N, Maddalozzo J (2007) Branchial anomalies in the pediatric population. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 137(2):289–295
Roh JL (2007) Lymphomas of the head and neck in the pediatric population. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 71(9):1471–1477
Handler SD, Raney RB Jr (1981) Management of neoplasms of the head and neck in children. Head and Neck Surg 3:395
Uysal I, Altuntaş E, Güler C, Tuncer E (2010) Retrospective analysis of the epidemiological data of the patients with neck masses followed for 19 years. KBB-Forum 9(2):129–131
Kasapoğlu F (2006) Neoplastic neck masses Turkiye Klinikleri. J Surg Med Sci 2:32–39
Koç A, Tutkun A, Batman Ç (1997) Neck masses in our department. KBB Bülteni 14:10–12
Göçmen H, Gürel T, Özeri C (1992) The diagnostic value of fine needle aspiration at head and neck masses. Türk Otolaringoloji Arşivi 30:249
Cıncık H, Sağlam Ö, Poyrazoğlu E (2003) Our approach to neck masses. KBB Postası 13:112
Torsiglieri AJ Jr, Tom LW, Ross AJ 3rd et al (1988) Pediatric neck masses: guidelines for evaluation. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 16(3):199–210
Al-Khateeb TH, Al Zoubi F (2007) Congenital neck masses: a descriptive retrospective study of 252 cases. J Oral Maxillofac Surg 65(11):2242–2247
Tracy TF Jr, Muratore CS (2007) Management of common head and neck masses. Semin Pediatr Surg 16(1):3–13
Görür K, Talas DU, Ozcan C (2005) An unusual presentation of neck dermoid cyst. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 262(4):353–355
Kermani W, Belcadhi M, Abdelkéfi M, Bouzouita K (2008) Papillary carcinoma arising in a thyroglossal duct cyst: case report and discussion of management modalities. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 265(2):233–236
Öztürk Ö, Demirci L, Egeli E, Çukur S, Belenli O (2003) Papillary carcinoma of the thyroglossal duct cyst in childhood. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 26:541–543
Sütbeyaz Y, Özbay S, Selimoğlu E, Öztürk A (1994) Analysis of 475 cases with neck masses. KBB ihtisas Dergisi 2:162–165
Conflict of interest
We have not any financial relationship with the organization that sponsored the research.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Balikci, H.H., Gurdal, M.M., Ozkul, M.H. et al. Neck masses: diagnostic analysis of 630 cases in Turkish population. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 270, 2953–2958 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-013-2445-9
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-013-2445-9