Neck mass list of aetiologies
My framework and approach to neck masses is by no means complete but it has held me in good stead.
Most neck mass causes can be divided into:
- Embryological - Congenital (present at birth) or developmental (present at a later stage of maturity)
- Midline
- Thyroglossal duct cyst
- Dermoid
- Lateral
- Branchial cleft cyst
- Lymphovascular malformation
- Haemangioma
- Teratoma/hamartomas
- Midline
- Acquired
- Inflammatory
- Acute
- Infective
- Viral - e.g. EBV lymphadenopathy
- Bacterial
- lymphadenopathy - from adenoids and/or tonsils
- abscess - e.g. skin/hair
- Non-infective
- Perichondritis of the thyroid or cricoid cartilage, often immune-related
- Thyroiditis
- Salivary sialolithiasis
- Infective
- Chronic
- Infective
- Viral - e.g. HIV lymphadenopathy
- Bacterial - TB, toxoplasmosis, cat scratch disease, actinomycosis
- Non-infective
- Sarcoidosis
- Granulomatosis polyangitis (Wegener’s)
- Auto-immune like rheumatoid arthritis
- Rosai-Dorfman
- Kikuchi
- Castleman
- Salivary sialolithiasis or ranula
- Infective
- Acute
- Neoplastic
- Primary
- Benign
- Salivary - Major or minor salivary glands
- Thyroid gland - goitre or colloid nodules
- Paragangliomas including carotid body tumours
- Schwannomas
- Malignant
- Salivary gland - Major or minor salivary glands
- Thyroid gland
- Lymphoma
- Sarcoma
- Benign
- Metastatic
- Nodal metastasis from the head and neck
- Skin, including melanoma
- Mouth
- Pharynx (Naso- , Oro- and Hypopharynx)
- Larynx
- Carcinoma of unknown primary
- Thyroid
- Salivary
- Nodal metastasis from below the clavicle
- Lung
- Stomach/GIT
- Renal Cell
- Breast
- Melanoma
- Nodal metastasis from the head and neck
- Primary
- Inflammatory