Ilana Neuberger1, Jeffrey J Tutman2, Christina J White2, David M Mirsky2. 1. Department of Radiology, Children's Hospital Colorado, University of Colorado, 13123 E. 16th Ave., Box 125, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA. ilana.neuberger@childrenscolorado.org. 2. Department of Radiology, Children's Hospital Colorado, University of Colorado, 13123 E. 16th Ave., Box 125, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Palpable masses of the head and neck are a common indication for imaging in the pediatric population. Midline lesions of the infrahyoid neck, particularly lesions isolated to the suprasternal notch, are not well studied. OBJECTIVE: To delineate the histopathological and imaging spectrum of masses that occur within and isolated to the suprasternal notch. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study was performed to identify patients with an isolated lesion of the suprasternal notch that had available pathological diagnoses. Available imaging was reviewed and characterized by fellowship-trained pediatric radiologists and compared by descriptive statistics to the final pathological diagnoses. RESULTS: Eighteen masses isolated to the suprasternal notch with available pathological diagnoses were identified. Of these, congenital epithelial inclusion cysts were diagnosed in 14 patients (77.8%) with dermoid cysts comprising 11 of those (61.1%) and epidermoid cysts accounting for 3 (16.7%). The most common imaging appearance was a cystic or pseudosolid appearance without vascularity. CONCLUSIONS: Isolated resected lesions of the suprasternal notch in pediatric patients are most frequently dermoid/epidermoid cysts, with a differential diagnosis including other less common entities.
BACKGROUND: Palpable masses of the head and neck are a common indication for imaging in the pediatric population. Midline lesions of the infrahyoid neck, particularly lesions isolated to the suprasternal notch, are not well studied. OBJECTIVE: To delineate the histopathological and imaging spectrum of masses that occur within and isolated to the suprasternal notch. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study was performed to identify patients with an isolated lesion of the suprasternal notch that had available pathological diagnoses. Available imaging was reviewed and characterized by fellowship-trained pediatric radiologists and compared by descriptive statistics to the final pathological diagnoses. RESULTS: Eighteen masses isolated to the suprasternal notch with available pathological diagnoses were identified. Of these, congenital epithelial inclusion cysts were diagnosed in 14 patients (77.8%) with dermoid cysts comprising 11 of those (61.1%) and epidermoid cysts accounting for 3 (16.7%). The most common imaging appearance was a cystic or pseudosolid appearance without vascularity. CONCLUSIONS: Isolated resected lesions of the suprasternal notch in pediatric patients are most frequently dermoid/epidermoid cysts, with a differential diagnosis including other less common entities.
Authors: Margarita Larralde; Ana Isabel Sánchez Moya; Maria Eugenia Abad; Paula C Luna; Fernando Heinen; Gabriel Casas Journal: Dermatol Online J Date: 2010-06-15