Worldwide, infants and children present yearly for evaluation of neck masses. Neck masses can be classified as benign, malignant, congenital, infectious, or inflammatory. Neck masses can be classified by location–most commonly midline versus lateral.¹ The diagnostic dilemma resulting from the extensive list of potential diagnoses of a pediatric neck mass sparked a review of practice guidelines in recent years.² Despite the analysis of pediatric neck masses in a few African countries,^3,4,5 there remains a paucity of guidelines for pediatric neck masses in Zimbabwe. Here, we contribute to the literature on pediatric neck masses in Zimbabwe through a case presentation of a unique midline neck mass.

ES was a 10-year-old female with no prior medical or surgical history who presented with her mother to a community pediatric hospital in Harare, Zimbabwe, for evaluation by the paediatric otolaryngology (ENT) clinic for an anterior neck mass. Her mother reported a 4-year history of a slowly enlarging mass, which began in the submental region as a small, non-painful lesion. They were offered antibiotic treatment for suspected abscess and referred to Harare Children’s Hospital. At that time, the patient’s mother was a widow without any income, and they were located 300 km from Harare. These challenges delayed their presentation for treatment for 3 years. Over this time, the mass continued to grow insidiously into her floor of mouth, displacing her tongue. This growth resulted in significant dysphagia and difficulty with speech perceptibility. Eventually, her mother saved enough money to pursue tertiary care.

On physical exam, her floor of the mouth was full and soft, and she had no appreciable dyspnoea; however, she experienced discomfort in a supine position (Figure 1). The patient did not have access to high-quality imaging such as computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); however, pre-operative ultrasound was donated (Figure 2) and was significant for a well-circumscribed midline neck mass. Our differential diagnosis was broad, including a plunging versus simple ranula, dermoid cyst, foregut duplication cyst, thyroglossal duct cyst or less likely abscess or malignancy.

After discussion with ES’s mother, surgical excision was elected via a transoral approach. Careful blunt dissection with a cold steel technique was used to deliver the mass through the floor of the mouth (Figure 3). The mass was sent for permanent pathology, which was significant for a keratin-containing cyst composed of epidermis with adnexal structures in the wall consistent with a dermoid. At 1-month post-operatively, the patient experienced no complications and had complete resolution of her functional symptoms and appearance.

The literature regarding pediatric neck masses in Zimbabwe is sparse. In this report, we detail the journey of a 10-year-old female from Harare, Zimbabwe, who presented with a progressively enlarging anterior neck mass. Here, pre-operative ultrasound was found to be extremely useful in facilitation of the diagnosis of a dermoid in a setting where it was otherwise difficult to obtain high-quality, more expensive imaging. We contribute this case to the growing literature on pediatric neck masses in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) with our discussion of this large, dermoid neck mass. Dermoid cysts typically occur in children younger than six and most often in the head and neck region.⁶ Our case is similar to others presented in the literature^7,8,9; however, we would like to use this case as an opportunity to highlight the utility of ultrasound in LMICs, especially in peripheral and rural hospitals in these countries. The differential diagnosis is broad for pediatric neck masses but can be narrowed by a thorough history, physical exam and imaging.^10,11,12,13

Our patient’s story highlights a systemic barrier–access to timely and effective diagnostic imaging, which often extends beyond individuals’ financial limitations. These challenges highlight a broader, more systemic issue rather than the patient’s financial limitations. However, a simple yet effective imaging option in this scenario is the use of ultrasound. Because of its cost-effectiveness and ease of utility, ultrasound can be considered a first-line imaging modality, especially in LMICs.¹⁴ Dermoid cysts are defined on ultrasound by their well-demarcated nature with internal echogenicity and increased posterior acoustic enhancement.¹⁴ In this case, we appreciated the well-demarcated border of the mass just deep to the anterior belly of digastric filled with echogenic material and increased acoustic enhancement posteriorly that hid the mylohyoid muscle just deep to the mass (Figure 2). According to Stewart et al.¹⁵, the use of ultrasound is growing in LMICs as it is portable, cheap and can help with many diagnoses. We urge readers to consider using ultrasound in their algorithm for neck masses in Zimbabwe and other LMICs to help better define the mass and potentially save time and financial resources.

Moreover, the ability to characterise the mass is necessary for the next steps in management. In this case, surgical intervention was the only definitive management option; however, the discussion surrounding a transoral versus transcervical approach to the mass was less clear. One author¹⁶ reported an approach that included a combination of an extraoral and intraoral incision to be able to reach the mass from different angles. Pirgousis and Fernandes¹⁷ described a transcervical approach with the argument that this approach allowed decreased morbidity, shorter operative time, improved hemostasis, especially for larger masses that fill the submental space. Given our patient’s young age and lack of airway compromise with ample space to work in the floor of mouth, we ultimately decided on the transoral approach. Our decision-making was supported by Kim et al.¹⁸, who also reported that a transoral approach provides a safe and effective method provides a superior cosmetic outcome. We would recommend that the decision to perform a transoral versus transcervical approach should consider the expertise and comfort of the surgeon, size and location of the mass and aesthetic concerns of the patient.

Imaging can help better define the mass and guide steps in surgical management, but as with most head and neck pediatric masses, delays in care can make the management of any neck mass more difficult. There are three major delays described in the literature.¹⁹ A type 1 delay describes a delay in deciding to seek care, a type 2 delay is a delay in reaching the facility and a type 3 delay is a delay in receiving care at a healthcare facility. Our patient suffered from all three types of delays. This case underscores the need to address systemic delays in healthcare with a special focus on early and accessible imaging. Ultrasound is cost-effective and widely available. It also is instrumental to both surgical decision-making and planning.

In summary, we present the case of a 10-year-old female who presented with a midline neck dermoid cyst. The significance of this case is the paucity of literature related to midline neck masses and their management in Zimbabwe and other LMICs. We hope to present a case that can illuminate the utility of ultrasound. Additionally, when considering the transoral versus transcervical approach for midline neck masses, we recommend that surgeons consider skill and experience, size, location of the mass and even cosmesis in their surgical planning. Lastly, we hope that providers consider the delays patients face in receiving care and work to improve access to timely surgical care and ultimately provide the best care for future patients.