Multiple cystic neck lesions (differential)

The differential diagnosis for multiple cystic neck lesions is different to that for a solitary cystic neck mass.

Differential diagnosis

Cystic neck lesions are seen in:

• metastatic squamous cell carcinoma: older patient, M>F
• metastatic papillary thyroid carcinoma: usually a younger patient, F>M
• tuberculosis: demographic will depend on country as will reflect migration history
• treated lymphoma
• suppurative nodes: bacterial - usually has prominent surrounding fat stranding