Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery

Head and Neck Masses

Phone number forFor Appointments

Overview

Head and neck masses are common clinical problems among infants, children, and adolescents. These can include inflammatory lesions, congenital masses, and both benign and malignant neoplasms (new, abnormal growths).

3Common Symptoms

Most patients do not exhibit any symptoms
Visible lump in the head or neck area
Mass felt in the head or neck area

Diagnosis and Treatment

The majority of head and neck masses in children are benign lesions caused by inflammation that either resolve spontaneously or respond to appropriate medical therapy. If a mass is persistent or reoccurs, operative biopsy or drainage may become necessary.

Related Conditions

Did you know?

For some patients with persistent or reoccurring masses, they might have an underlying condition such as nontuberculous (atypical) mycobacteria, cat scratch disease, or Kawasaki disease, which we will also help identify if present.
Sometimes a mass might also progress due to abscess formation. In these cases, we would consider a needle biopsy, an incisional biopsy (removing a small piece) or an excisional biopsy (removing the mass completely).

What you need to know before your visit

{{bookmark.headline}}