Clinical and Demographic Patterns of Patients Presenting with Neck Swelling in a Tertiary Otolaryngology Centre

Open Access

Abstract

Background: Neck swellings are a common clinical presentation in otolaryngology, arising from diverse anatomical structures and encompassing benign, inflammatory, and malignant conditions. This study aimed to describe the clinical, demographic, and pathological patterns of patients presenting with neck swellings in a tertiary ENT center. Methods & Materials: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 100 patients presenting with neck swellings in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Faridpur Medical College, Faridpur, Bangladesh, during the period from January 2024 to December 2024. Demographic data, clinical features, FNAC results, and histopathological findings were recorded and analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: Most patients were young to middle-aged adults, with the largest proportion in the 15–30-year group (37%). Thyroid-origin swellings (42%) and lymph-node lesions (35%) were the predominant anatomical sites. Pain (84%), fever (78%), and lymphadenopathy (60%) were the most frequent symptoms. Cytology identified nodular goitre (22%), Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (15%), reactive hyperplasia (14%), and granulomatous lymphadenitis (8%) as major diagnoses. Histopathology confirmed that 73% of masses were benign or inflammatory, while 27% were malignant, predominantly metastatic carcinoma (7%) and lymphomas (8%). FNAC demonstrated 87% overall diagnostic accuracy, correctly identifying 64 benign and 23 malignant cases. Conclusion: Benign and inflammatory conditions form the bulk of neck swellings in tertiary ENT practice, with FNAC providing reliable, efficient diagnostic guidance. A structured diagnostic approach remains essential to ensure timely detection of malignant lesions.