Neck Masses/Head and Neck Cancer

Head and Neck Surgery is a significant part of an Otolaryngologist/Head and Neck Surgeon's training and experience. Dr. Tamez trained at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio has had extensive experience since finishing training and works with a highly skilled and experienced team of Oncologists in both medical (chemotherapy) and radiation oncology. You could not find yourself in better hands.

Any neck mass/swelling should be considered suspect in both adults and children. Children have an active immune system and lymph nodes can become noticeable, and at times, get infected. Exposure to cats, ticks, and the like should be explored to assess for cat scratch disease and lyme disease. Tuberculosis (TB)/Scrofula may need to be ruled out. Hemangioma and Lymphangioma are other possibilities. Malignacies such as Rhabdomyosarcoma, Neuroblastoma, Hodgkins and Non-Hodgkins lymphoma need to be ruled out.

In adults with neck masses, a complete history of smoking, chew/dip tobacco and alcohol intake, along with a complete head and neck exam, including a fiberoptic evaluation of the upper airway and larynx, is undertaken. Specific questioning of voice change/hoarseness, ear pain/otalgia, odynaphagia (throat pain), dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) is undertaken. Usually a CAT scan (CT) of the neck and likely a Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA) is performed.

Benign Lesions of the Head and Neck

• Thyroglossal Duct Cyst (TGDC)
• Branchial Cleft Cyst (BCC)
• Lympadenitis
• Cat scratch Disease
• Teratoma
• Lipoma
• Fibroma
• Neuroma
• Hemagioma
• Juvenile Angiofibroma

Malignant Neoplasm of the Head and Neck

• Primary Sarcoma
• Hodgkins and Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma
• Metastaic Squamous Cell carcinoma from the upper airway
• From a cutaneous malignancy from Nasophargeal carcinoma(NPC)
• Fom Parotid maliganacy
• Fom Thyroid maliganacy
• From other site lung, bone, renal

If you suffer from hoarseness, ear pain, notice a throat lesion or lesion on your face or neck, make an appointment to get evaluated by Dr. Tamez.

Fact Sheets

• Head and Neck Cancer
• Laryngeal (Voice Box) Cancer
• Skin Cancer
• Smokeless Tobacco
• Are We Through With The Chew Yet?