The pediatric neck mass : a look at the clinicopathologic characteristics [abstract]

Abstract

The pediatric neck mass is a common finding which includes a wide differential diagnosis. Determining the etiology based off of clinical examination alone is often difficult due to the asymptomatic nature of most masses. Often patients with benign disease undergo diagnostic biopsy due to parental or clinician concern of an underlying malignancy, chronic/recurrent infection or proliferative processes. A retrospective study was performed on children with neck masses who underwent biopsy at the University of Missouri Hospitals. Data was collected concerning clinical presentation, laboratory and radiographic workup and pathologic diagnosis. Results are currently pending.