This document contains 5 multiple choice questions that test knowledge of common neck lump diagnoses. It also provides an overview of neck anatomy, common presenting neck lumps, and tips for physical examination. The questions cover diagnoses such as thyroglossal cyst, pharyngeal pouch, lymphoma, dermoid cyst, and branchial cyst. A correct answer is provided for each multiple choice question to review diagnostic knowledge.

2. QUESTIONS 1
The mother of a 2-year old becomes concerned after she notices
a lump in his neck. On examination, the child is well, there is a
swelling in the subcutaneous tissue of the posterior triangle
which transilluminates. The most likely diagnosis is:
A. Dermoid cyst
B. Branhial cyst
C. Thyroglossal cyst
D. Cystic hygroma
E. Ranula

3. QUESTION 2
A 61-year old lady presents with a neck lump. The mass is below
the sternocleimastoid muscle. Although the swelling is
painless, she is profoundly embarrassed by halitosis. The
most likely diagnosis is:
A. Goitre
B. Reactive lymphadenopathy
C. Lymphoma
D. Pharyngeal pouch
E. Cervical rib

4. QUESTION 3
A 31- year old man presents with recurrent infection and
abscesses in the neck. On examination, you notice a midline
defect with an overlying scab. The swelling moves upwards
on tongue protrusion. The defect is most likely due to:
A. Dermoid cyst
B. Branhial cyst
C. Thyroglossal cyst
D. Cystic hygroma
E. Ranula

5. QUESTION 4
A 80-year old complains of neck swelling after a recent
cold, which has not resolved. On direct questioning, he has
experienced night sweats and has noticed some pain in the
lumps when he drinks wine with his meals. Examination
reveals multiple, painless swelling in the neck of a ‘rubbery’
consistency. His symptoms are most likely due to:
A. Goitre
B. Reactive lymphadenopathy
C. Lymphoma
D. Pharyngeal pouch
E. Cervical rib

6. QUESTION 5
A fit 19-year old man notices a neck swelling whilst he is shaving.
On examination, there is a smooth, round and mobile lump
not tethered to underlying structures. Fluid aspirated from the
swelling contains cholesterol crystals. The most likely cause
of the swelling is:
A. Dermoid cyst
B. Branhial cyst
C. Thyroglossal cyst
D. Cystic hygroma
E. Ranula

7. 1. Reactive
lymphadenopathy
2. Lymphoma
3. Dermoid cyst
Midline lumps:
1. Thyroid swelling
2. Thyroglossal cyst
3. Pharyngeal pouch
Lateral lumps:
6. Cystic hygroma
7. Branchial cyst
8. Cervical rib
9. Carotid aneursym
SESSION OVERVIEW

8. A COMMON COMPLIANT…
• You will see a lot of neck lumps, whether you work in
GP pr hospital.
• Affects all age groups.
• Comes in all shape, sizes and consistencies.
• Painful vs. painless.
• Can occur in isolation, or accompany other systemic or
local symptoms.
• A common presentation of head and neck
malignancy, beyond the scope of this presentation.

9. ANATOMY: TRIANGLES OF THE THE NECK

10. ANATOMY: LEVELS OF THE NECK
• I:Submental/submandibul
ar triangles.
• II: To hyoid bone
• III: To omohyoid muscle
• IV: To clavicle
• V: Posterior triangle
• VI: Midline
• I and V sometimes sub-
divided into a + b.

11. 1. REACTIVE LYMPHADENOPATHY
• By far the most common cause of neck swellings.
• Affects all age groups.
• Tender to touch.
• History of local infection or generalised viral illness.
• Should resolve spontaneously.
• No specific treatment required.

12. 2. LYMPHOMA
• Manifestation of a systemic malignancy.
• Rubbery, painless lymphadenopathy.
• Pain on drinking alcohol, uncommon symptom.
• May be associated with night sweats, weight loss
and splenomegaly.

13. 3. DERMOID CYST
• Can occur anywhere in the body.
• Cystic teratoma.
• Contains developmentally mature and well-
differentiated tissue: clumps of hair, pockets of
sebum, bone, teeth, eyes, cartilage and/or thyroid
tissue.
• Almost always benign.
• Management: Complete surgical removal without
spillage of contents.

14. 4. THYROID SWELLING
• Most likely due to hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism.
• Thyroid disease F > M.
• Typically young female patients.
• Midline swelling.
• Moves upwards on swallowing.
• Accompanied by thyroid symptoms: Heat
intolerance, palpitations, diarrhoea, fine tremor, proptosis etc.
• FNA may be useful to rule-out more sinister pathology
• Manage underlying thyroid disorder.

15. 5. THYROGLOSSAL CYST
• Fibrous cyst due to persistence of the thyroglossal duct.
• More common in patients <20 years age.
• Location: Midline, usually between hyoid bone and thyroid
isthmus.
• Movement: Upwards with tongue protusion.
• May be painful if infected.

16. 6. PHARYNGEAL POUCH
• Posteromedialherniation between thyropharyngeus and
cricophayrgeus muscles.
• Most common in older men.
• Not usually seen, can be perforated during an OGD.
• Can present as a large midline lump in neck.
• Gurgles on palpation.
• Trapped food debris causes halithosis.
• Symptoms:
Dysphagia, regurgitation, aspiration, halithosis, chornic cough.

17. 7. CYSTIC HYGROMA
• Congential lymphatic lesion (lymphangioma).
• Typically found in neck.
• Classically on left side.
• Most evident at birth.
• 90% present by age 2 years.
• Management: Surgery

18. 8. BRANCHIAL CYST
• Failure of obliteration of 2ndbranchial cleft in
embryonic development.
• Oval, mobile, cystic mass developing between
SCM and pharynx.
• Usually presents in teenage years and early
adulthood.
• Management: Conservative (no treatment) or
surgical excision.
• Management:

19. 9. CERVICAL RIB
• Extension of costo-cartilage on 7th cervical vertebra.
• Prevalence: 1 in 500 (0.2% population).
• More common in adult females.
• 10% develop thoracic outlet syndrome.
• Also compression of brachial plexus and subclavian
artery.
• Abson’s sign: Loss of radial pulse on arm abduction
and external rotation.

20. 10. CAROTID ANEURSYM
• Pathological dilatation of carotid artery.
• Secondary to atherosclerotic disease.
• Puslatile lateral neck mass, doesn’t move on
swallowing.
• May hear a bruit.
• Rare, incidence increases with age.
• Other isk factors: Trauma, HTN, endocarditis.
• Management dependent on size: Conservative vs.
surgical repair

21. INVESTIGATIONS
• Blood tests
• FBC
• U&Es, CRP
• Thyroid function tests
• Imaging:
• USS
• CT
• MRI
• Biopsy:
• Fine needle aspiration (FNA)
• Excision biopsy

22. • Look – Listen –
Feel
• Site
• Size
• Shape
• Surface (Smooth or
Nodular?)
• Mobility (Tethered?)
• Consistency
• Colour
• Tenderness
• Transillumination
• Consider sex and
age group of
patient.
• Timing
• Pain
• Movement
• Associated
symptoms
SUMMARY: TIPS FOR PHYSICAL EXAMINATION

23. REVIEW: QUESTION 1
The mother of a 2-year old becomes concerned after she notices a lump in
his neck. On examination, the child is well, there is a swelling in the
subcutaneous tissue of the posterior triangle which transilluminates.
The most likely diagnosis is:
A. Dermoid cyst
B. Branhial cyst
C. Thyroglossal cyst
D. Cystic hygroma
E. Ranula
Correct answer: D

24. REVIEW: QUESTION 2
A 61-year old lady presents with a neck lump. The mass is below the
sternocleimastoid muscle. Although the swelling is painless, she is
profoundly embarrassed by halitosis. The most likely diagnosis is:
A. Goitre
B. Reactive lymphadenopathy
C. Lymphoma
D. Pharyngeal pouch
E. Cervical rib
Correct answer: D

25. REVIEW: QUESTION 3
A 31- year old man presents with recurrent infection and abscesses in the
neck. On examination, you notice a midline defect with an overlying
scab. The swelling moves upwards on tongue protrusion. The defect is
most likely due to:
A. Dermoid cyst
B. Branhial cyst
C. Thyroglossal cyst
D. Cystic hygroma
E. Ranula
Correct answer: C

26. REVIEW: QUESTION 4
A 80-year old complains of neck swellings after a recent cold, which has
not resolved. On direct questioning, he has experienced night sweats
and has noticed some pain in the lumps when he drinks wine with his
meals. Examination reveals multiple, painless swelling in the neck of a
‘rubbery’ consistency. His symptoms are most likely due to:
A. Goitre
B. Reactive lymphadenopathy
C. Lymphoma
D. Pharyngeal pouch
E. Cervical rib
Correct answer: C

27. REVIEW: QUESTION 5
A fit 19-year old man notices a neck swelling whilst he is shaving. On
examination, there is a smooth, round and mobile lump, not tethered to
underlying structures. Fluid aspirated from the swelling contains
cholesterol crystals. The most likely cause of the swelling is:
A. Dermoid cyst
B. Branhial cyst
C. Thyroglossal cyst
D. Cystic hygroma
E. Ranula
Correct answer: B

28. ‘ To be a successful surgeon, you need the
eyes of a hawk, the heart of a lion and
the hands of a lady…’
Sir Lancelot Spratt, Doctor in the House