Multidisciplinary management of congenital giant head and neck masses: Our experience and review of the literature

Background: Large fetal head and neck (HN) masses can be life-threatening at birth and postnatally owing to airway obstruction. The two most frequent congenital masses that may obstruct the airway are lymphatic malformation (LM) and teratoma. The aim of this paper was to evaluate the results of our experience in the management of giant congenital HN masses and to conduct a literature review.

Methods: The study involved a consecutive series of 13 newborns (7 females) affected by giant HN masses. Prenatal diagnosis was achieved by means of ultrasound (US) and fetal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Delivery was performed by means of EXIT procedure in case of radiological evidence of airway obstruction. In the postnatal period all feasible therapeutic options (surgery, sclerotherapy, medical therapy) were discussed and adopted by a multidisciplinary team. Twelve patients underwent surgery and one received Rapamycin for one month, with consequent surgical resection owing to increasing size of the mass.

Results: The histopathological diagnosis was LM in 11 cases and teratoma in 2 cases. Airway obstruction was solved in 11 cases; 2 LM patients required a tracheotomy because of persistent airway obstruction. Major complications were flap necrosis (one patient) and facial nerve palsy (2 cases). Recurrence occurred in 5 patients.

Conclusions: The management of congenital HN masses is always challenging and necessarily requires an interdisciplinary approach. Current therapeutic options include surgery, sclerotherapy, medical therapy or a combination of them. When they are large enough to obstruct the airway, a patient-centered approach should guide timing and modality of treatment.

Level of evidence: IV.