Pediatric Head and Neck Tumors

What are Pediatric Head and Neck Tumors?

Head and Neck tumors among infants and young children are common. They usually are noticeable only when a lump is or a mass is visible on the face or neck of a child. Most often than not, the pediatric head and neck tumors are non-cancerous or benign. However, in some cases they can be malignant. It is, therefore, very important to get any tumor anywhere on your child’s body checked out by an experienced doctor.

If you are looking for effective treatment for pediatric head and neck tumors do not hesitate to set up an appointment with a skilled and experienced pediatric Earache specialist at Eastside ENT specialists in Ohio. Give us a call at 440-352-1474 and access quality medical care for your child.

What Causes Pediatric Head and Neck Tumors?

In children, some tumors may develop because of abnormal development during pregnancy, while others may form later on. SCM tumor of infancy, Cysts and Inflammatory lymphadenitis can lead to head and neck growths and tumors in children. However, thyroid cancer is perhaps the most common cause of solid tumor malignancy in children. Thyroid is a butterfly shaped gland on the base of your throat, it secretes three kinds of hormones that regulate growth and metabolism and to decrease calcium concentration in the blood. Malfunctioning or rogue cells in thyroid glands can lead to thyroid cancer.

Types of Pediatric Thyroid Cancer

Following are some of the important types of pediatric Thyroid Cancer:

• Papillary: it occurs in the cells of thyroid gland that produce iodine-secreting hormones. It grows slowly and may spread to lymph nodes.
• Follicular: It is less common in kids and afflicts the same cells as papillary cancer. It may spread to neck through blood vessels and other parts of the body.
• Medullary: This type of cancer is usually associated with genetic conditions. It affects the cells that produce calcium-regulating hormone called calcitonin.
• Anaplastic: Rarely seen in children it grows rapidly in the neck.

What are the Symptoms of Head and Neck Tumors?

Depending on the kind and type of head and neck tumor, the symptoms may vary. Some common symptoms of Thyroid cancer in children are as follows:

• Pain in the neck
• Lump in Neck
• Swollen lymph nodes
• A tight feeling in the neck
• Trouble breathing
• Difficulty in swallowing
• Hoarseness
• Warmth in the neck
• Tenderness
• Recurring throat infections

What are the Risk Factors for Head and Neck Tumors?

Some hereditary conditions may increase your child’s chances of developing head and neck tumors including thyroid cancer.

When Should I see a Doctor?

If your child is complaining of pain in head or neck, having difficulty breathing or eating, you should immediately contact an experienced head and neck doctor to find out the underlying cause and to get effective and timely treatment.

How are Pediatric Head and Neck Tumors Diagnosed?

A pediatric otolaryngologist may use following diagnostic procedures to figure out the cause and extent of your child’s head and neck tumor:

• Physical exam to check for lumps
• A blood test to assess thyroid function
• Ultrasonography using sound waves can help create an image of thyroid gland and lymph nodes to find out any abnormalities
• A fine needle biopsy of an abnormal lump
• Thyroid Lobectomy involves removal of a part of a thyroid tumor for detailed analysis

How are Head and Neck Tumors Treated?

For effective head and neck tumor treatment, the pediatric head and neck surgeon may recommend following surgical treatments:

• Lobectomy
• Subtotal Thyroidectomy
• Total Thyroidectomy
• Removal of lymph nodes
• Surgery may be followed by radioactive iodine therapy and if cancer has spread to other parts, chemotherapy may be needed.

Head and Neck tumors in children can be extremely dangerous, if timely diagnosis and treatment is not accessed. If you are looking for effective treatment for pediatric head and neck tumors do not hesitate to set up an appointment with a skilled and experienced pediatric Earache specialist at Eastside ENT specialists in Ohio. Give us a call at 440-352-1474 and access quality medical care for your child.