Analysis of Pediatric Facial Dog Bites

Abstract

To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy and to discuss the utility of preoperative ultrasonography in the pediatric patient with a midline neck mass. METHOD: An institutional-review-board approved retrospective review of pediatric patients undergoing excision of a midline neck mass between 1999 and 2010 at a tertiary care institution. The preoperative imaging modality, imaging diagnosis and pathologic results were evaluated. RESULTS: 48 patients were included in this review. This study failed to demonstrate a positive correlation between preoperative ultrasound-based diagnoses and postoperative pathologic results (P Ͼ0.9999). A correlation between MRI or CT-based diagnoses, and postoperative pathologic results was demonstrated (PϾ0.0001). CONCLUSION: Ultrasonography is commonly utilized in the workup of a midline neck mass in the pediatric population. Despite the utility of preoperative ultrasonography, the diagnostic accuracy of this imaging modality may have significant limitations.