Pediatric head and neck tumors: A study of 178 cases

This report is based on 178 pediatric patients diagnosed with head and neck tumors in a 10‐year period at the Children's Hospital Medical Center in Boston, Mass. A statistical comparison was made with two other publications limited to pediatric head and neck tumors, and the similarity in rank‐order was clearly noted except in a few isolated instances. Malignant tumors of the neck occurred in 104 children. From newborn to six years, the most common neck tumors were neuroblastoma, lymphosarcoma, and rhabdomyosarcoma. From ages seven to 13 the most common neck tumors were Hodgkin's disease, lymphosarcoma, and thyroid tumors. From ages 14‐21 the most common neck tumors were Hodgkin's disease, lymphosarcoma, and squamous cell carcinoma. Malignant tumors of the head occurred in 74 children. Each anatomic site of the head was analyzed to determine what tumor cell was present when a mass lesion occurred. These data may help the physician to make more accurate clinical diagnoses. A general discussion of the methods of treatment are also presented, including surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy and a new modality, cryosurgery.