Benign Neck Masses: When They Can Be Removed in a Private Office Setting
As a head and neck surgeon, much of my hospital surgical practice is dedicated to treating patients with head and neck cancer and other conditions requiring complex or urgent surgery.
However, not every neck mass is cancerous. Patients commonly develop benign growths such as lipomas, which are non-cancerous tumors made up of fatty tissue. Although lipomas are generally not dangerous, they can gradually enlarge and become bothersome.
Depending on their size and location, a lipoma may cause pressure, discomfort or a visible swelling in the neck. Some patients find that a larger lipoma interferes with clothing, for example, making it difficult to comfortably button the collar of a shirt. For others, the primary concern is simply its appearance.
Hospital operating room resources are appropriately prioritized for cancer and other medically urgent conditions. As a result, patients seeking removal of benign neck masses are not prioritized.
Many of these benign neck masses can be assessed and, when appropriate, removed in the private setting at ENT Specialty Group in Montreal. In selected cases, the procedure can be performed under local anesthesia in the office, avoiding the need for a hospital operating room.
An initial consultation allows me to examine the mass, review any necessary imaging, confirm that office-based removal is appropriate, and discuss the procedure and expected recovery with the patient.
For patients who have been living with an uncomfortable or cosmetically bothersome benign neck mass, private treatment may provide another option for having it assessed and treated in a timely manner.