Douglas R Sidell1, Nina L Shapiro. 1. Division of Head and Neck Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1624, USA. dsidell@mednet.ucla.edu
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy and to assess the utility of preoperative ultrasonography in the pediatric patient with a midline neck mass. STUDY DESIGN: Diagnostic test study. SETTING: Tertiary care university hospital. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: An institutional review board (UCLA Office of the Human Research Protection Program)-approved retrospective review of pediatric patients undergoing excision of a midline neck mass between 1999 and 2010 at a tertiary care institution was performed. The preoperative imaging modality, imaging diagnosis, and pathologic results were evaluated. RESULTS: Forty patients were included in this review. This study failed to demonstrate an association between preoperative ultrasound-based diagnoses and postoperative pathologic results (P > .99). CONCLUSION: Ultrasonography is commonly used in the workup of a midline neck mass in the pediatric population. Despite the utility of preoperative ultrasonography, the diagnostic accuracy of this imaging modality may have significant limitations.
OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy and to assess the utility of preoperative ultrasonography in the pediatric patient with a midline neck mass. STUDY DESIGN: Diagnostic test study. SETTING: Tertiary care university hospital. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: An institutional review board (UCLA Office of the Human Research Protection Program)-approved retrospective review of pediatric patients undergoing excision of a midline neck mass between 1999 and 2010 at a tertiary care institution was performed. The preoperative imaging modality, imaging diagnosis, and pathologic results were evaluated. RESULTS: Forty patients were included in this review. This study failed to demonstrate an association between preoperative ultrasound-based diagnoses and postoperative pathologic results (P > .99). CONCLUSION: Ultrasonography is commonly used in the workup of a midline neck mass in the pediatric population. Despite the utility of preoperative ultrasonography, the diagnostic accuracy of this imaging modality may have significant limitations.