title: The ABCs (Airway, Blood Vessels, and Compartments) of Pediatric Neck Infections and Masses.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The radiologist plays several important roles in the diagnosis and management of pediatric neck infections and masses. Although the clinical diagnosis of an infection is often clear, the radiologist should evaluate for an underlying cause and for drainable collections. With neck masses, the radiologist's role is to form a differential diagnosis and evaluate for biopsy of a potentially neoplastic lesion. With both clinical scenarios, the radiologist should also evaluate for complications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The mnemonic device ABCs (airway, blood vessels, and compartments) serves as a useful reminder for potentially critical complications of pediatric neck infections and masses.
authors.affiliation: 1 Division of Neuroradiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.
authors.forename: Mai-Lan
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.affiliation: 2 Pediatric Section, Department of Radiology, UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital, San Francisco, CA.
authors.forename: Jesse
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Courtier
authors.affiliation: 3 Neuroradiology Section, Department of Radiology, University of California San Francisco, 505 Parnassus Ave, San Francisco, CA 94122.
authors.forename: Christine M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Glastonbury
mesh_terms: D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D003560:Cysts / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000175:diagnosis*; D009333:Neck
keywords: lymphadenitis; neck infections; retropharyngeal abscess; rhabdomyosarcoma; thyroglossal duct cyst