Neck mass
Medical condition
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A neck mass or neck lump is an ambiguous mass found in the neck area. There are many different possible causes,[1] including head and neck cancer[2] and congenital conditions like branchial anomalies and thyroglossal duct cysts.[3]
| Neck mass | |
|---|---|
| Specialty | ENT surgery |
Diagnosis
Workup of a neck mass includes a medical history and a physical examination, where important characteristics are location, size, shape, consistency, tenderness, mobility, and color.[4]
When this is not conclusive, further workup includes:
- Blood tests
- Medical imaging: Contrast CT is generally the initial study of choice for adults.[4] Medical ultrasound of the neck is useful in children because it avoids the radiation dose of CT.[4]
In some cases, fine needle aspiration may assist in the diagnosis.
