Is this lump in the neck anything to worry about?

PREVIEW

A patient comes in with a neck lump. Does he or she report voice or hearing changes and progressive enlargement of the lump? Are cervical lymph nodes fixed and firm? Is sensation or movement of the face limited? Do you find induration in the mouth or a mass in the thyroid or parotid gland on palpation? These are some high-risk findings that require further evaluation. In this article, the authors summarize the many causes, both benign and malignant, of neck masses in adults. They describe how to conduct history taking and physical examination to narrow the list of potential causes of the mass, and they provide recommendations for when to refer the patient to a head and neck specialist.