Two hundred three cases with masses in the neck under fifteen years of age at the Depa-rtment of Surgery, Wonju College of Medicine, Yonsei University were reviewed. The observation period included the interval between September 1978 and August 1983.
There were 82 cases(40.4%) of nonspecific lymphadenopathy, 74 cases(36.5) of inflammatory lesions, 64 due to tuberculous lymphadenitis, 9 to acute suppurative lymphadenitis and 1 to sialadenitis. 22(36.4%) of total 203 cases had congenital lesions, cystic hygroma in 9, thyro-glossal duct cyst in 8 and branchial cleft cyst in 5. The remaining 25 cases(12.3%) had neoplasms, benign in 9 and malignancy in 7. The most common malignancy was lymphoma.
There was no specific relationship to sex or duration of symptom. Nonspecific lymphadeno-pathy had even distribution to age, but tuberculous lymphadenitis was most common in prepu-bertal age. Malignant cervical tumors were usually found over 10 years of age.
Palpable mass in the neck was most common symptom and the masses were either easily,, suspected congenital lesion or lymph node enlargement.
Multiplicity of the cervical masses was 60.6% and single cervical mass was 39.4%. Many nonspecific lymphadenopathy had multiple node enlargement and bilateral involvements. Most common midline masses were congenital origin, particularly due to thyroglossal duct cyst.
Median size of the cervical masses was 2.2 cm in diameter. The size was largest in the acute suppurative lymphadenitis with 3.3 cm in diameter and smallest size was 1.4 cm of nonspecific lymphadenopathy.
Of 64 cases with tuberculous lymphadenitis, 14(21.8%) had pulmonary tuberculosis and 1 had tuberculous peritonitis.
|