الفهرس | Only 14 pages are availabe for public view |
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. |