Neck mass

Background

• Common complaint seen in primary care medicine
• Important to recognize acutely life threatening etiologies, treatable disease, and potential for malignancy

Clinical Features

• Enlarged neck lesions
  • Associated symptoms based on etiology may include:
    • Pain
    • Skin changes
    • Stridor
    • Hoarseness
    • Constitutional symptoms

Differential Diagnosis

• Acute
  • Infectious
    • Viral URI
    • EBV
    • CMV
    • Strep/staph
    • HIV
    • Toxoplasmosis
    • Bartonella
    • Tuberculosis
  • Sialadenitis
  • Hematoma
  • AV fistula
  • Parotid lymphadenopathy

• Subacute
  • Squamous cell carcinoma
  • Amyloidosis
  • Lymphoma
  • Metastatic disease
  • Parotid tumor
  • Sarcoidosis
  • Sjögren syndrome

• Chronic
  • Thyroid pathology
  • Branchial cleft cyst
  • Carotid body tumor
  • Glomus jugulare tumor
  • Glomus vagale tumor
  • Laryngocele
  • Lipoma
  • Thyroglossal duct cyst