ABSTRACT
Neck lumps in children are common and are mostly secondary to reactive lymphadenopathy. These swellings are usually self-limiting but may progress to abscess formation requiring aspiration or incision and drainage. Chronic infections are less common, and congenital abnormalities can present as a neck swelling at birth or frequently later in childhood following an acute infective episode. Head and neck malignancies in children are rare. Many present with an asymptomatic swelling in the head and neck region. Survival rates have improved significantly over the last 20 years. It is particularly important to detect these malignancies at an early stage when prognosis will be more favourable.
