The evalution of head and neck lymphadenopathies in children

Aim: The aim of this study is to evaluate the sociodemographic properties, clinical, laboratory and radiologic findings and diagnosis of patients with head and neck lymphadenopathy who applied to the department of Pediatric Oncology of Medical Faculty of Gazi University. Method: Total 700 cases that applied to the department of pediatric oncology of Medical Faculty of Gazi University between January 2009 and December 2019 were evaluated. The sociodemographic properties, clinical, laboratory and radiologic findings of the cases were assesed retrospectively by scanning their records. Findings: 479 (68.4%) of the cases were males and 221 (31.6%) of them were females. The mean age of cases was 7.08 ± 4.25 years. Localized lymphadenopathy was present in 509 (72.7%) cases and generalized lymphadenopathy was present 191 (27.3%) cases. Of 700 cases, benign causes were detected in 581 (83%) cases, malignant causes were detected in 54 (7.7%) cases, lymphadenopathy like masses were detected in 65 (9.3%) cases. The lymph node diameter over 3 cm, accompanying fever and weight loss, supraclavicular region involvement, fixed, firm and rubbery lymph nodes, leukocytosis, elevation of CRP, ESR and uric acid levels, accompanying hepatomegaly, weakness, itching and hearing loss found significant in terms of malignancy. The most frequent cause in the benign group was upper respiratory tract infections. The most frequent cause in the malignant group was Hodgkin lymphoma. Biopsy was made from 125 of the cases for diagnosis. Malign causes were detected in 54 (43.2%) of them and benign causes were detected in the remaining 71 (56.8%). Conclusion: Head and neck lymphadenopathy 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, early diagnosis is important in the prognosis of the patient. Keywords: Childhood, head and neck, lymphadenopathy