May be a history of local infection or a generalised viral illness |
| Lymphoma | | - Rubbery, painless lymphadenopathy
The phenomenon of pain whilst drinking alcohol is very uncommon
May be associated night sweats and splenomegaly |
| Thyroid swelling | | - May be hypo-, eu-, or hyperthyroid symptomatically
Moves upwards on swallowing |
| Thyroglossal cyst | | - Most common in patients < 20 years old
Usually midline, between isthmus of thyroid and hyoid bone
Moves upwards with protrusion of the tongue
May be painful if infected |
| Pharyngeal pouch | | - More common in older men
Usually not seen but if large then a midline lump in the neck that gurgles on palpation
Typical symptoms are dysphagia, regurgitation, aspiration and chronic cough |
| Cystic hydroma | A congenital lymphatic legion | - Lesion classically found on the left side
Most are evident at birth, around 90% present before 2 years of age |
| Brachial cyst | - An oval, mobile cystic mass that develops between the sternocleidomastoid muscle and the pharynx
Develop due to failure of obliteration of the second branchial cleft in embryonic development | - Usually present in early adulthood |
| Cervical rib | | - More common in adult females
Around 10% develop thoracic outlet syndrome |
| Carotid aneurysm | | Pulsatile lateral neck mass which doesn't move on swallowing |