Perinatal masses of head and neck: A pictorial review

Objectives To identify typical imaging appearance of lesions of the fetal and neonatal head and neck. To demonstrate particularly of MRI and CT in evaluating the deep cervical structures, characterization of soft tissue lesions and evaluation of enhancement characteristics. Methods and materials Clinical series descriptive study with a retrospective examination of neonates with masses of the neck. US were performed in all patients, CT in 2 cases and Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in 9 cases. Results Of our 15 neonates, cervical teratoma was found in 3 cases, cystic lymphangioma in 2 cases, branchial cleft cyst in 1 case, lungual teratoma in 1 case, neuroblastoma in 1 case, extra-axial intracranial archnoid cyst in 3 cases and 4 occipital encephaloceles. Masses can be subdivided into anterior and posterior lesions. The differentiating features that should be noted include the solid or cystic nature of the mass, the thickness of its wall, the vascularity, presence of calcifications and septations or loculations and the laterality. Large masses can have major fetal and perinatal effects due to the compression and distortion of surrounding cervical structures. Conclusion Imaging is often the initial imaging examination for evatuation of perinatal neck and head masses. Ultrasound should serve as the primary initial imaging modality in perinatal head and neck masses. Both magnetic resonance imaging and CT are used for additional evaluation of the lesions.