الفهرس 
Introduction and aim of the workOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Pediatric cystic neck swellings represent a major group of lesions
that have long been a challenge to both clinicians and radiologists. New
imaging modalities have considerably improved the diagnostic and
therapeutic capabilities in evaluation of cystic neck swellings in infants
and children.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of ultrasonography &
computerized tomography in the diagnosis of pediatric cystic neck
swellings.
The study included 30 patients 17 male & 13 female whose ages
ranged from 1day to 18 years. All patients were examined by US, color
Doppler & computed tomography. Childhood (2-12 years) was the most
common affected age category. Lateral cystic neck swellings were more
than midline swellings.
Our study showed that the commonest pathology was salivary
abscess (6 patients), thyroglossal cyst (5), cystic hygroma (3),
retropharyngeal abscess (3), 2nd branchial cyst (3), parapharyngeal
abscess (2), non tuberculus lymphadenitis with cystic degeneration (2),
colloid cyst (2), ranula (1), dermoid cyst (1), tuberculus lymphadenitis
with central caseation (1) & complex thyroid cyst (1).
Although US of the neck is certainly, neither a new technology nor
a new innovation yet it remains an excellent tool for evaluating the
pediatric cystic neck swellings and providing guidance for further
intervention. US helps to narrow the differential diagnosis or even reach a
final diagnosis in many patients. US coupled with color Doppler flow
imaging and spectral analysis provide a valuable tool in differentiating
vascular anomalies as well as benign from malignant cystic neck
swellings.
CT was superior to US in the diagnosis of many patients like those
suffering from congenital orthopedic deformities, short neck, and cysts
that were too large to be completely imaged within the ultrasound field. It
has a great role in the characterization and staging of conditions involving
the neck as well as providing essential information about the deep
extension of clinically detected swellings. Axial & sagittal planes were
preferable for midline cystic swellings.
Additional investigations such as MRI and biopsy were done to
some patients to verify the diagnosis.
Finally, we may conclude that US is the prime investigation for
patients suspected of having cystic neck swellings and is the first step in
reaching the diagnosis; while CT scan is an important indispensible
confirmatory study.