This document discusses various causes of head and neck swellings including inflammatory/infectious conditions, cystic lesions, thyroid masses, enlarged lymph nodes, and benign or malignant masses. Specific causes mentioned include dermoid and epidermoid cysts, thyroglossal duct cysts, branchial cleft cysts, sebaceous cysts, ranulas, pharyngeal pouches, goiters, pleomorphic adenomas, Warthin's tumors, and malignant tumors such as squamous cell carcinoma. The symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment are described for some of these conditions. Physical examination techniques and radiographic investigations that can help identify the cause are also outlined.
2. What Causes Head and Neck Swellings ?
Inflammatory / Infectious conditions.
Cystic lesions, thyroid masses, vascular masses, &
salivary gland masses.
Enlargement of lymph nodes
Benign & Malignant masses.
3. Symptoms Associated with Neck Lumps
Change in the voice including hoarseness persists for > 2 weeks
Growth in the mouth
Swollen tongue
Blood in the saliva or phlegm
Swallowing problems
14. Dermoid and Epidermoid Cysts
An essential difference between Dermoid cyst and Epidermoid cyst is the
presence of dermal appendages such as sebaceous glands, hair follicles,
& sweat glands
Clinical appearance of Dermoid and Epidermoid cysts of the neck
a midline suprahyoid growing mass
The mass is soft, mobile, and unattached to the overlying skin.
Unlike thyroglossal duct cysts, the Dermoid are not intimately
associated with the hyoid bone and thus do not move on protrusion of the
tongue
On CT scan
the central cavity is usually filled with homogeneous, hypoattenuated fluid material.
Discrete intracystic foci marbles, with moderate hyperintensity due to coalescence of
fat into small nodules within a fluid matrix
Surgical Management >> Complete surgical excision
16. Thyroglossal Duct Cyst
The thyroid primordium originates at the level of the foramen cecum at
the junction of the anterior 2/3 & posterior 1/3 of the tongue located in
the midline or slightly paramedian
The cysts usually manifest as an enlarging painless fluctuant mass ranges
from 0.5 to 6 cm in diameter
Approximately 80% of the cysts occur either at or below the level of the
hyoid bone.
Characteristically the lesion moves upward on tongue protrusion, a
reflection of the origin of the duct at the foramen cecum
CT scans >> smooth, well-circumscribed mass anywhere along the
vertical course of the vestigial thyroglossal duct
17. Surgical Management >> Sistrunk procedure involves en bloc excision
of the entire thyroglossal duct tract to the foramen cecum, as well as the
central 1 to 2 cm of the hyoid bone
19. Branchial Cleft Cyst
most commonly located in the submandibular space. However, because
of the anatomic relationship of the second branchial cleft and the cervical
sinus, they can occur anywhere along a line from the oropharyngeal
tonsillar fossa to the supraclavicular region of the neck. These cysts
usually present as painless fluctuant masses in the lateral portion of the
neck adjacent to the anteromedial border of the SCM muscle, at the
mandibular angle
CT scans >> well-circumscribed,
homogeneous, masses surrounded
by a uniformly thin wall
Surgical Management
Complete surgical excision
20. Sebaceous cyst
Benign, harmless growth that occurs under the skin and tends to be smooth to the
touch.
Ranging in size, sebaceous cysts are usually found on the scalp, face, neck and
ears.
They are formed when the release of sebum, a medium-thick fluid produced by
sebaceous glands in the skin, is blocked.
Unless they become infected and painful or large, sebaceous cysts do not require
medical attention or treatment, and they usually go away on their own.
If they become infected, the physician may drain the fluid and cells that make up
the cyst wall. Or, if the cyst causes irritation or cosmetic problems, it may be
removed through a simple excision procedure.
21. Ranula presents as a Cystic swelling in the floor of mouth.
It occurs as a mucous extravasation from sublingual salivary gland.
Plunging Ranula may extend through the mylohyoid muscles into
the neck.
Surgical treatment is by removal of the Sublingual gland.
22. Pharyngeal pouch
pocket that forms in the upper part of the esophagus. Food collects in
the pouch instead of going down the esophagus causing difficulty in
swallowing and loss of weight. Some food may regurgitate (comes
back undigested) in the throat and mouth causing coughing and chest
infections.
Etiology
Upper esophageal sphincter dysfunction.
When the upper esophageal sphincter doesnt open all the way, it
puts pressure on an area of the pharynx wall.
This excess pressure gradually pushes the tissue outward.
23. Clinical picture
Left side swelling
Soft, tender
Pain, dysphagia
Recurrent respiratory infection
Halitosis
Food regurgitation
Diagnosis
Barium swallow, is a special X-ray that highlights the inside of your
mouth, pharynx, and esophagus.
27. Benign tumors
Pleomorphic adenoma
1- Parotid > submandibular & palatal S.G
2- Painless, firm, slowly growing swelling
3- With Submucosal bluish discoloration
4- Not invade facial n.& no metastasis
5- Its dump-bell shaped tumor
28. Treatment
Complete excision with a surrounding normal tissue
1- if in Superficial lobe Superficial parotidectomy (lateral
lobectomy)
2- if in superficial and deep lobe Total parotidectomy with
preservation of facial nerve.
29. Warthins tumor
in parotid & minor glands in palate
slowly growing round painless movable mass
Bilateral
If multiple & irregular >>> high recurrence rate
Superficial parotidectomy
32. Squamous Cell Carcinoma
6th most common cancer worldwide
HNSCC ~ 5% all cancers
S.C.C most common upper aero digestive tract malignancy
Smoking
50% HNSCC occur in oral cavity
Management presents considerable functional and aesthetic
problems
Multidisciplinary approach imperative
Removal of Primary tumor + cervical nodes
Surgery / Radiation / Chemotherapy
Sometimes palliation
Cervical neck disease reduces survival by 50%