Neck lumps in adults

In this episode, Rajan Patel discusses the critical red flags associated with neck lumps in adults. He covers when an urgent referral is necessary and what patients can expect during their visit to a neck surgeon for a red flag neck lump.

Topics

Intro
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What to ask when a patient presents with a neck lump.
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Risk Factors for head and neck cancers
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Ethnic disparities in head and neck cancers
Nasopharyngeal cancer 20x more likely in a pacific origin patient.
Red flag to consider
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What percentage of persistent neck lumps are malignant?
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Has the HPV vaccination impacted these statistics?
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Physical Examination
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Does the location of the neck lump provide clues about its potential malignancy?
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How quickly should the patient be referred on?
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Who should we be referring on to?
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What can we tell patients about their first appointment with a specialist?
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Where can primary care practitioners find more information on this topic?
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Take-home messages
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Take home messages

Familiarize yourself with the red flags
Consider a malignant diagnosis
Conduct a thorough head and neck exam
Refer urgently if illicit suspicious/red flag symptoms or signs.

Resources

Cancer of the upper aerodigestive tract: assessment and management in people aged 16 and over NICE guidelines
Early diagnosis and post-operative care of head and neck cancer Goodfellow Unit webinar
Understanding Head & Neck Cancer Cancer Society New Zealand
GP Hub MercyAscot head and neck service

Presenter

Rajan Patel

Head and Neck Surgeon

Contact Rajan

Rajan qualified as Consultant Head and Neck Surgeon in 2005. He was awarded Doctor of Medicine (MD) Diploma by the University of Glasgow for his research efforts in 2005. Thereafter he completed three years of Fellowship training in Head & Neck Surgery and Reconstructive Surgery in Toronto and Sydney.

He was appointed Consultant Surgeon at Auckland City Hospital in 2009 and is a Surgeon at MercyAscot Head and Neck Service.

Rajan‘s clinical expertise includes surgical management of thyroid gland nodules, salivary gland tumours, neck lumps, head and neck cancers (including larynx, pharynx and oral cavity) and facial skin cancer and melanoma, and tissue reconstruction.

Rajan has published more than 40 articles in scientific journals and written several book chapters on head and neck surgery. He is part of the MercyAscot Head & Neck Service team.