Etiology of neck masses

Abstract Background: Neck masses especially lymph node enlargement, comprise a high percent of complaints in ENT departments. Objective: To review the data files of neck masses especially lymph nodes and to find etiology of them. Methods: Through a descriptive study, files and pathology report of 213 patients who were admitted for biopsy in an ENT department for chief complaints of neck mass were reviewed. Findings: It was revealed that thyroid gland, salivary gland, lymph nodes and congenital masses were the four common causes of neck mass, in descending sequence. Lymph nodes comprised 24% of the total in which enlargement of 50% of cases was due to primary or metastatic malignancies which more frequent in individuals under 20 years of age and in males. The most common cause of cervical adenopathy was metastasis that was frequently seen in SCC of nasopharyngeal or oral cavity region, in the 6th decade of life. In children and young adults reactive lymph nodes and lymphoma were more common. Tuberculosis as the second cause of cervical adnopathy is still frequent. Conclusion: A clear picture of the etiology of neck masses was revealed in this study.