Neck lumps - Rajan Patel | Goodfellow Unit

Rajan Patel talks about the diagnosis and management of neck lumps in primary care. Rajan is a head and neck surgeon at MercyAscot hospital and has a keen interest in teaching.

Topics

Common presentations – causes of neck lump
Key questions to ask patient
Best practice examination
Wider examination
Risk factors/red flags
Diagnostic features
Investigations to order
Guidance on referral
Specialist assessments – what to tell patients

Take home messages

Most neck lumps are benign
10% chance of malignancy
Features that merit referral to specialist: increase in size of neck lump neck lumps greater then 2cm, neck lump duration greater than 6 weeks or 3 weeks if it is changing.
If neck lump is associated with head and neck constitutional symptoms (night sweats, fever, itch, weight loss).