Publication:

Pattern of neck masses in adult patient in southern region KSA

Background Many head and neck diseases manifest as neck masses with a wide range of developmental lesions to malignancies. A neck mass can be defined as any abnormal growth or development from the skull base to the level of the clavicle. This retrospective study to assess the distribution of neck masses related to gender, age, pathology, and anatomical location of neck masses in Asir Central Hospital.

Methods During a 5-year period (2011–2016), the medical records of 158 patients with neck masses were collected from the department of pathology at Asir Central Hospital KSA. The cases were reviewed for data on gender, age, pathology, and the anatomical location. Comparisons between genders, age groups, and tissue origins were performed. We divided the age to 4 categories: from 15 to 30 years, 31 to 45 years, 46 to 60 years, and more than 60 years. All statistical tests were performed with SPSS software. We exclude thyroid, parathyroid and salivary gland masses.

Results Over a period of 5 years, a total of 158 patients (90 men and 68 women) had neck masses resected for pathological assessments. The age of presentation was ranging from 15 to 84 years. Among the 158 cases, 40.5% developed in (from 15 years to 30 years old), 24.7% developed in (31 to 45 years), 20.9% developed, in (46 to 60 years), and 13.9% developed in age more than 60 years. The histopathological diagnosis of the neck masses were congenital 10.1%, inflammatory 28.5%, benign tumor 5.7% and malignant tumor 55.7%.

Conclusions The age and location of neck masses are the most important variables. When a neck mass is seen, neoplasms should be considered in older adults inflammatory and congenital masses in children and young patients. Although the history, medical examination and additional diagnostic methods provide important information, the exact diagnosis may only be obtained by histopathological examination.