S K Apple1, R K Nieberg, S L Hirschowitz. 1. Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles 90095, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Fibromatosis colli, a common cause of congenital muscular torticollis, should be differentiated from other neck masses in infants. Invasive diagnostic and therapeutic measures should be avoided. CASES: Three infants under the age of 2 months presented with neck masses--a clinical suspicion of malignancy, lymphadenopathy and teratoma. The cytologic findings included dyshesive multinucleated skeletal muscle fragments showing degenerative and atrophic changes within a background of scattered reactive fibroblasts. CONCLUSION: Fine needle aspiration biopsy is a safe and rapid method of providing a confirmatory diagnosis of neck masses in infants.
BACKGROUND:Fibromatosis colli, a common cause of congenital muscular torticollis, should be differentiated from other neck masses in infants. Invasive diagnostic and therapeutic measures should be avoided. CASES: Three infants under the age of 2 months presented with neck masses--a clinical suspicion of malignancy, lymphadenopathy and teratoma. The cytologic findings included dyshesive multinucleated skeletal muscle fragments showing degenerative and atrophic changes within a background of scattered reactive fibroblasts. CONCLUSION: Fine needle aspiration biopsy is a safe and rapid method of providing a confirmatory diagnosis of neck masses in infants.