Swellings in the neck require medical attention. Although most Neck Swellings are benign in nature, it is imperative that thorough examination and investigation is carried out to rule out malignancy.
One should be particularly careful when the following conditions are present:
|
A significant family history of head and neck cancers eg. Nasopharyngeal cancer
A history of smoking , drinking and chewing betel nuts
When Neck Swellings do not subside and respond to medication
When a Neck Swelling is associated with symptoms of nose bleeding, hearing loss, eating difficulty
or hoarseness of voice |
Neck Swellings can arise from different head and neck regions. These areas can broadly be classified into:
|
1. The parotid region
Parotid (salivary gland) tumours
Lymph nodes
Salivary gland stones |
|
2. The submandibular region
Submandibular (salivary gland) tumours
Lymph nodes
Salivary gland stones |
|
3. Thyroid region
Thyroid tumours
Thyroid cysts
Thyroglossal duct cyst |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Intraoperative picture of
a large salivary tumour |
|
|
A Patient with a large
thyroid gland |
|
Tests that are commonly carried out are:
1. Fine needle aspiration cytology
This involves inserting a fine needle and suctioning cells from the Neck Swelling to ascertain the nature before surgery. This is done in the clinic under topical anesthesia. The tissue specimen is sent to the laboratory for evaluation.
2. Radiological evaluation
CT or MRI scanning of the neck is often undertaken to obtain more information about a Neck Swelling. From the radiological images, one is often able to assess the size and nature of the neck growth. |