Abstract
Background
The differential diagnosis for pediatric neck pain is broad and includes benign and
life-threatening entities. The neck is a complex structure with many compartments.
Rare disease processes exist that can mimic more serious conditions, such as meningitis.
Case Report
We present a case of a teenager with several days of severe pain underneath her left
jaw, limiting the motion of her neck. After laboratory and imaging evaluation, the
patient was found to have an infected Thornwaldt cyst and was subsequently admitted
for IV antibiotic treatment. Why Should an Emergency Physician Be Aware of This? Including
infected congenital cysts on the differential for pediatric neck pain can help ensure
appropriate use of invasive procedures, such as lumbar puncture. Missed cases of infected
congenital cysts could lead to patients returning to the emergency department with
persistent or worsened symptoms.
Keywords
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REFERENCES
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: March 07, 2023
Accepted:
February 17,
2023
Received:
December 11,
2022
Publication stage
In Press Uncorrected ProofIdentification
Copyright
© 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
