Learning objectives
To know the principal nontraumatic pediatric neck pathologies in the emergency setting.
To analize the different imaging modalities for an initial evaluation.
To standardize a radiological diagnostic method based on the symptomatology.
Background
The evaluation of pediatric patients in the neck emergency setting is a challenge for the radiologist due to a limited physical examination and the relative low incidence of this pathology,
which make it a less known field for the general radiologist.
We propose a practical analysis based on the three more frequent clinical forms: Neck swelling/palpable mass,
fever with dysphagia and breathing difficulties.
Findings and procedure details
The main findings seen across all imaging modalities were clustered in 3 groups,
as follows:
A).- NECK SWELLING / PALPABLE MASS:
1.- Cervical lymphadenopathy:
Enlarged cervical nodes are the most common neck masses in children.
Enlargement of cervical lymph nodes may be due to infectious,
inflammatory,
neoplastic,
or idiopathic causes.
Normal lymph nodes are classified according to diameter,
which is generally less than 10 mm in the long axis.
Exceptions are level IB and IIA nodes,
which may be as large as 15 mm in...
Conclusion
Neck pediatric emergencies represent a wide range of pathologic processes that can be clustered in: Neck swelling/palpable mass,
fever with dysphagia and breathingdifficulties.
Imaging plays a critical role in diagnosis of pediatric neck emergencies and its potential life threatening complications.
To achieve an accurate diagnosis,
radiologists must be familiar with the imaging appearances of infectious,
inflammatory,
congenital,
and neoplastic conditions within neck across all modalities.
Personal information
Thank you very much for your interest in our poster!.
Please do not hesitate to contact us should you have any questions in:
[email protected]
References
-Benjamin J.
Ludwig,
MD,
Bryan R.
Foster,
MD,
Naoko Saito,
MD Rohini N.
Nadgir,
MD,
Ilse Castro-Aragon,
MD,
Osamu Sakai,
MD,
PhD.
Diagnostic Imaging in Nontraumatic Pediatric Head and Neck Emergencies.RadioGraphics 2010; 30:781–799.
-Vieira F,
Allen SM,
Stocks RM,
Thompson JW.
Deep neck infection.
Otolaryngol Clin North Am 2008;41(3):459–483.
-Smoker WRK.
The oral cavity.
In: Som PM,
Curtin HD,
eds.
Head and neck imaging.
4th ed.
St.
Louis,
Mo: Mosby,
2003; 1377–1464.
-Craig FW,
Schunk JE.
Retropharyngeal abscess in children: clinical presentation,
utility of imaging,...