The management of pediatric neck masses

Neck masses are a common clinical concern both in adults and children. The differential diagnosis is quite broad, from congenital lesions to malignant tumors. Based on the different pathologic diagnosis, the treatments are varied. To the best of our knowledge, limited reports, which specifically discuss the incidence and distribution of neck diseases in early childhood, have been published. Because of the great population in China, a thorough review of the previous clinical data for pediatric neck masses might be potentially valuable for oral and maxillofacial surgeons, which might provide a deeper understanding and better the accuracy of our clinical diagnosis and management. In this article, a 10-year retrospective review was completed; the whole cases were diagnosed and treated in the same major clinical institute in east China, which might represent as a typical cohort for the patient population and serve as a reference for future clinical management.