title: Spontaneous neck haematoma.
abstract: A 66-year-old Caucasian woman presented with right-sided neck swelling and worsening pain for 5 days. There was no history of trauma, cough or excessive muscular strain. She was not on any anticoagulants or antiplatelet drugs. On initial examination, a 5×4 cm swelling was seen on the trapezius in the posterior triangle of the right side of the neck. The swelling was tender, firm and not mobile on palpation. A CT scan of the neck showed resolving haematoma 3 cm deep to the right trapezius muscle at the level of the hyoid bone. She was treated as an outpatient with analgesics. A repeat CT scan after 4 weeks showed complete resolution of the haematoma. A Medline literature search did not reveal any reported cases of spontaneous haematoma in the posterior triangle of the neck without any precipitating factor.
authors.affiliation: University Hospital of North Staffordshire, ENT Department, Princes Road, Stoke on Trent, ST4 7LN, UK.
authors.forename: Madhu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Damodara
authors.forename: Shilpa
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Patil
authors.forename: Natarajan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Saravanappa
references.citation: Ear Nose Throat J. 1999 Mar;78(3):168, 171, 175
references.pmid: 10188353
references.citation: J Laryngol Otol. 1993 Jul;107(7):649-50
references.pmid: 15125293
references.citation: J Laryngol Otol. 1978 Mar;92(3):215-21
references.pmid: 632660