ABSTRACT
Evaluation of a patient with a neck swelling requires a careful and systematic clinical approach with sound understanding of the anatomical structures of the neck and appreciation of the pathology, which is the focus of this chapter. Neck lumps may be benign or malignant and can be the presenting symptom of loco-regional and/or systemic diseases across all age groups. A comprehensive history and assessment of the characteristics of the neck swelling, including a thorough examination of the upper aerodigestive tract followed by appropriate investigations (cytology/haematology/radiology), will provide the diagnosis in more than 95 per cent of cases. With the above structured approach, open surgical excision of neck masses should almost always be part of the planned treatment rather than a diagnostic step. Treatment of neck lumps, especially if malignant, depends on the underlying disease
process, and a detailed discussion is thus outside the scope of this work.
