After a Neck Mass Removal: How to Care for Your Child

Your child had a neck mass removed. The surgeon also might have removed some nearby tissue. Often this tissue is sent to a lab for testing. Your health care provider will let you know when the results are ready, usually in a few days to a week. The surgeon also may have inserted a temporary "drain," a special type of tube that helps carry extra fluid out of the body, so it doesn't build up and cause swelling in the neck. Removing the drain is simple and will be done in a follow-up visit.

Your child should recover quickly and get back to normal activities after a short period of rest. Follow these instructions to keep your child comfortable during recovery.

• Give your child any prescribed medicines as directed. Pain medicine may include acetaminophen (Tylenol^® or a store brand), ibuprofen (Advil^®, Motrin^®, or a store brand), or prescription pain medicine. Do not give ibuprofen to babies under 6 months old. Some pain medicines include the same or similar ingredients. To avoid giving too much, give the medicines exactly as your surgeon recommends.

• Make sure your child is fully awake before offering food or drink. Begin with clear liquids (breastfed infants can nurse). If they can hold that down, they can move on to formula or cow's milk if they usually get these. If your child eats solid foods, slowly start giving these.

• Keep the incision as clean and dry as possible. Having your child take a bath with their neck above water is better than a shower for the first day or two. After that, your child may shower, but should not soak the incision in the bathtub or by swimming.

• If your child has a drain in place, follow the instructions on caring for it and do not try to move it.

• Apply antibiotic ointment to the incision twice a day, if recommended.

• Do not allow activities that need strength and coordination (such as driving, swimming, biking, or climbing stairs alone) for 24 hours.

• Schedule a follow-up visit to see the surgeon 1–2 weeks after the surgery.

• In rare cases, neck masses can return after they have been removed. Make sure your child's regular health care provider knows about the surgery so they can look for any changes during checkups.

• Follow the health care provider's instructions for when your child can return to school, childcare, or other activities.

Your child:

• has swelling, redness, or discharge around the incision

• has severe pain

• has a fever higher than 101°F (38.3°C)

• throws up more than 4 hours after leaving the hospital

• refuses to eat or drink

• has more than a few drops of blood around the incision

Your child:

• is short of breath or has chest pain

• has noisy breathing or trouble swallowing or speaking

• faints

What causes neck masses in children? Neck masses in children are often found to be enlarged lymph nodes that are inflamed or infected. Sometimes a neck mass is congenital (meaning the child was born with it). A congenital mass can be a cyst or a vascular malformation (a clump of blood vessels or lymph vessels that haven't grown the right way). Rarely a neck mass can be a tumor.