[A rapidly enlarging neck mass]

Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd. 2024 Jun 10:168:D7899.
[Article in Dutch]

Abstract

The differential diagnosis of a rapidly enlarging neck mass consists of many different benign ((haemorrhagic) cyst) and malignant (anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) and lymphoma) causes. ATC is a rare disease with a median survival of 6 months. As early diagnosis and management are key for fast-growing cancers, in our centre we have implemented a dedicated short-stay in-hospital fast-track diagnostic work-up for patients with a rapid growing mass in the neck. The goal of this track is to have a fast diagnostic and therapeutic plan for this disease. Based on three clinical cases we discuss our experience with this fast-track diagnostic work-up for rapidly growing mass in the neck and illustrate the additional value in this clinical entity.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / pathology
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Neck / pathology
  • Thyroid Carcinoma, Anaplastic / diagnosis
  • Thyroid Carcinoma, Anaplastic / pathology
  • Thyroid Neoplasms* / diagnosis
  • Thyroid Neoplasms* / pathology