All issues > Volume 48(8); 2005

Original Article

Korean J Pediatr. 2005;48(8):839-845. Published online August 15, 2005.

Clinical Evaluation of Tissue Biopsy for Children with Neck Mass; A Single Center Study

You Sook YS Youn¹, Hye Won HW Yoon¹, Sun Young SY Kim¹, Ji Young JY Sul², Chang Jun CJ Song³, Jin Man JM Kim⁴, Kyung Duk KD Park¹

¹Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Korea
²Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Korea
³Department of Radiology, College of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Korea
⁴Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Korea

Correspondence Sun Young SY Kim ,Email: sunyoung@cnuh.co.kr, nel1205@hanmail.net

Abstract

Purpose
: Neck masses, in pediatric population, derive from a multitude of congenital, inflammatory, or neoplastic diseases. The majority of these masses represent benign conditions. However, thorough clinical evaluation is required to rule out malignant diseases. We evaluated the causes, clinical characteristics and outcomes of children with neck masses who underwent tissue biopsy.
Methods
: A total of 28 medical records of children with neck mass who underwent tissue biopsy at Chungnam National University Hospital, from January 2000 to March 2004 were retrospectively analyzed. The methods of biopsy were ultrasonography guided core biopsy(CB), fine needle aspiration biopsy(FNAB) and excisional biopsy.
Results
: Out of 28 patients, half were boys. The most common location of the mass was the posterior cervical area(N=19, 67.9%). Laboratory findings of peripheral blood and serologic studies were nonspecific. In 25(89.3%) cases, CB or FNAB was initially performed for neck masses. Among them 10 cases(40%) were reactive hyperplasia, 8(32%) inflammatory granulation tissues, 4(16%) necrotizing lymphadenitis, and 3(12%) acute suppurative inflammations. Initially, excisional biopsy was performed for diagnosis in 3(10.7%) cases. Diagnosis of these cases was thyroglossal duct cyst, dermoid cyst and lymphoblastic lymphoma, respectively.
Conclusion
: Most neck masses in children were benign. CB and FNAB were safe methods for tissue sampling, without need for general anesthesia.

Keywords :Neck mass , Core biopsy , Fine needle aspiration biopsy , Excisional biopsy