Imaging of neck masses in the neonate

Abstract

Introduction Neck masses occurring in the neonatal period and early infancy consist of vascular tumors, vascular malformations, benign and malignant soft tissue tumors and other developmental lesions. Although some lesions can be diagnosed on clinical grounds, others can only be diagnosed by imaging. Beyond diagnosis, imaging plays a significant role in evaluating the location and extent of a lesion for possible intervention. Methods and materials Clinical series descriptive study with a retrospective examination of neonates with masses of the neck. US were performed in all patients, CT in 3 cases and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in 4 cases. Results Cervical teratoma was found in 4 cases, neuroblastoma in 2 cases and cystic lymphangioma in 2 cases. Prenatal diagnosis was performed in 2 cases. Fine-needle biopsy confirmed diagnosis in the two cases of neuroblastoma. Conclusion Imaging is essential for accurate diagnosis and pretreatment planning of neck masses. Ultrasound is often used for initial evaluation. Computed tomography (CT) provides additional information with regard to the extent and internal composition of the mass. Magnetic resonance imaging may be needed in some cases for preoperative assessment.