Imaging evaluation of congenital pediatric neck pathologies

Abstract

Diagnosing congenital neck masses in the pediatric population can be challenging, since the differential diagnosis often includes rare or unfamiliar entities, and there is overlap in clinical presentation and imaging findings. A thorough understanding of embryology, anatomy, and common lesions in the pediatric neck, along with the typical location, clinical presentation, and imaging findings of commonly encountered pediatric neck masses significantly decreases unnecessary testing and delay in diagnosis and treatment. The purpose of this article is to present congenital lesions of the pediatric neck with pertinent embryology, clinical presentation, and imaging considerations.

Keywords

• Branchial cleft. Branchial arch. Thyroglossal duct cyst. Thymus. Lymphatic malformation. Dermoid.