Non-thyroid neck masses in tropical Africans.

A study was undertaken to determine the nature of non-thyroid neck masses among Nigerians. Under the age of 30 years tuberculosis accounted for 39% of cases; at the age of over 30 years metastases to lymph nodes was responsible for the majority (29%). Tuberculosis is not a major cause of neck masses in Nigerians over the age of 30. Primary lymphomas accounted for 23% of all cases, and were encountered uniformly in all age-groups. Congenital lesions like cystic hygroma, thyroglossal duct cyst, and branchial cysts were uncommon.