Evaluation of Head and Neck Lymphadenopathies in Childhood

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the sociodemographic properties, clinical, laboratory, and radiological findings, and diagnosis of patients with head and neck lymphadenopathy (LAP) who applied to the Department of Pediatric Oncology of Medical Faculty of Gazi University.

Material and Methods: Cases who applied to the Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatric Oncology between January 2009 and December 2019 due to head and neck LAP were evaluated. The sociodemographic properties and clinical, laboratory, and radiologic findings of the patients were retrospectively assessed by scanning their records.

Results: Seven hundred patients with head and neck LAP between the ages of 0-18 were included in this study. Four hundred seventy nine (68.4%) of the cases were males and 221 (316%) were females. The mean age of the patients was 7.08±4.25 years. Localized LAP was present in 509 (72.7%) cases and generalized LAP were present 191 (27.3%) cases. Of 700 cases, benign causes were detected in 581 (83.1%) cases, malignant causes were detected in 54 (7.7%) cases, and LAP-like masses were detected in 65 (9.2%) cases. Lymph node diameter over 3 cm, accompanying fever and weight loss, supraclavicular region involvement, fixed, firm, and rubbery lymph nodes, leukocytosis, elevation of C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and uric acid levels, accompanying hepatomegaly, weakness, itching, and hearing loss were significant malignancies. The most frequent cause in the benign group was upper respiratory tract infections. The most frequent cause in the malignant group was Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Biopsy was performed from 125 of the cases for diagnosis. Malign causes were detected in 54 (43.2%) patients and benign causes were detected in the remaining 71 (56.8%).

Conclusion: Head and neck LAP is a frequently encountered finding in childhood. Benign causes are the more frequently detected causes in its etiology. However, malignant causes are detected less frequently; therefore, early diagnosis is important in the prognosis of the patient.