Pediatric Head and Neck Malignancies

Abstract

Head and neck masses represents a common clinical entity in pediatric age group. In general, these masses are classified in to developmental, inflammatory, or neoplastic. Having a working knowledge of these lesions in head and neck region & conducting a thorough history & physical examinations generally enable the clinician to simplify an appropriate workup and establish a diagnosis. The differential diagnosis is wide-ranging, and expeditiously distinguishing the benign from malignant masses is difficult for instituting a timely multidisciplinary approach to the management of malignancy. Malignancy of the head and neck account for approximately 5% of all childhood carcinomas. This review aims to discuss the most common head and neck malignancies in childhood. The evidence for the diagnosis and management of childhood, head and neck malignancy is summarized. The rarity of these tumors are inevitably results in a paucity of high-level evidence to guide the treatment. Keywords: Children, Head and neck malignancy, Lymphoma, Malignancy, Rhabdomyosarcoma