A neck mass or neck lump is an ambiguous mass found in the neck area. There are many different possible causes,[1] including
head and neck cancer[2] and congenital conditions like branchial anomalies and
thyroglossal duct cysts.[3]
Diagnosis
Workup of a neck mass includes a
medical history and a
physical examination, where important characteristics are location, size, shape, consistency, tenderness, mobility, and color.[4]
When this is not conclusive, further workup includes:
^Pynnonen, Melissa A.; Gillespie, M. Boyd; Roman, Benjamin; Rosenfeld, Richard M.; Tunkel, David E.; Bontempo, Laura; Brook, Itzhak; Chick, Davoren Ann; Colandrea, Maria; Finestone, Sandra A.; Fowler, Jason C.; Griffith, Christopher C.; Henson, Zeb; Levine, Corinna; Mehta, Vikas (September 2017).
"Clinical Practice Guideline: Evaluation of the Neck Mass in Adults". Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery. 157 (S2).
doi:10.1177/0194599817722550.
ISSN0194-5998.