Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 2, 2026
Endoscopic Endonasal Trans-sphenoidal Approach: Minimally Invasive Surgery for Pituitary Adenomas
Published on: January 17, 2018
Approach to the pediatric neck mass
Insights
Pediatric neck masses present a diagnostic challenge, with only 61% of preoperative diagnoses being correct. This review discusses clinical characteristics and evaluation guidelines for children with cervical masses.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Otolaryngology
- Head and Neck Surgery
- Pediatric Oncology
Background:
- Cervical masses are common in children, often posing diagnostic difficulties for physicians.
- Established guidelines for evaluating pediatric neck masses are limited compared to adults.
- A significant portion of preoperative diagnoses for pediatric neck masses are inaccurate.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the etiology of pediatric cervical masses.
- To discuss clinical characteristics that aid in diagnosing pediatric neck masses.
- To provide guidelines for the evaluation of children with neck masses.
Main Methods:
- Review of 445 pediatric neck masses operated on at a children's hospital.
- Analysis of preoperative diagnostic accuracy.
- Identification of clinical features associated with accurate diagnoses.
Main Results:
- The preoperative diagnosis was correct in only 61% of cases (270 out of 445).
- This highlights a considerable diagnostic dilemma in pediatric neck mass evaluation.
- Specific clinical characteristics may improve diagnostic accuracy.
Conclusions:
- Accurate preoperative diagnosis of pediatric neck masses remains a challenge.
- Clinical characteristics are crucial for improving diagnostic accuracy.
- Development and implementation of clear evaluation guidelines are needed for pediatric cervical masses.
Abstract:
Neck masses are frequent findings in the pediatric population and the physician caring for a child with a neck mass may be faced with a diagnostic dilemma. The etiology of pediatric cervical masses includes a variety of conditions. Unlike for the adult, there are few established guidelines for evaluation of these children. A recent review of 445 neck masses operated on at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia noted the preoperative diagnosis to be correct in 270, or only 61%. Clinical characteristics which may aid in establishing a correct preoperative diagnosis, as well as guidelines for the evaluation of the child presenting with a neck mass will be discussed.
