DOI: 10.36347/sjmcr.2015.v03i12.001

Pages: 1142-1145

The differential diagnosis of a mass in the neck is broad, extensive, and includes both benign and malignant etiologies. Sometimes neck masses are caused by a cyst that has been present from birth but is noticed only after it has become inflamed or infected. Neck masses may also result from swelling due to a neck injury or benign tumors. Rarely, lymphoma, a thyroid tumor, or malignant tumor is the cause. Here, we report a case of one month old baby who presented with an asymptomatic lateral neck mass, later diagnosed as benign sternocleidomastoid tumor of infancy on FNAC. It proved to be a rapid and reliable diagnostic modality guiding for conservative management and avoiding surgery and thus prevents late complication of torticollis.