Neck masses

Differential Diagnosis
In alphabetical order.


 * Abscess
 * Acute lymphadenitis
 * Adenoma
 * Angioma
 * Atypical mycobacterium
 * Branchial cleft cyst
 * Carcinoma
 * Carotid body tumor
 * Cat-scratch disease
 * Cystic hygroma
 * Hemangioma
 * HIV
 * Hyperplasia
 * Laryngeal tumor
 * Laryngocele
 * Lymphoma
 * Metastasis
 * Mononucleosis
 * Neurofibroma
 * Parathyroid tumor
 * Salivary gland tumor
 * Sarcoidosis
 * Sarcoma
 * Schwannoma
 * Skin cancer
 * Soft tissue tumor
 * Thyroglossal duct cyst
 * Thyroid cancer
 * Thyroiditis
 * Thyrotoxicosis
 * Tuberculosis scrofula
 * Upper aerodigestive tract tumor

History and Symptoms

 * Recent growth
 * Age
 * Radiation exposure
 * Localized symptoms
 * Social history
 * Family history

Physical Examination

 * Evaluate for size, location, color, symmetry, tenderness, consistency

Laboratory Findings

 * Complete blood count (CBC)
 * Blood urea nitrogen (BUN)/creatinine
 * Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH)
 * Parathyroid hormone
 * Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)
 * Calcium
 * Phosphorus
 * Monospot test
 * Free T4
 * Chemistries

Chest X Ray

 * Chest X-ray

MRI and CT

 * CT scan
 * MRI

Other Imaging Findings

 * Angiography
 * Barium swallow
 * Radioactive iodine uptake scan

Other Diagnostic Studies

 * Open biopsy
 * Fine needle aspiration

Acute Pharmacotherapies

 * Antibiotics
 * Antithyroid medications
 * Chemotherapy
 * Radiation
 * Immunotherapy

Surgery and Device Based Therapy

 * Thyroid ablation
 * Incision and ablation
 * Excisional biopsy
 * Parotidectomy
 * Neck dissection
 * Parathyroidectomy
 * Subtotal or total thyroidectomy
 * Thyroid lobectomy