Masses of the fetal neck and oral cavity

Abstract

Congenital neck and oral cavity masses encompass a range of pathologies including vascular anomalies, soft tissue tumors, cysts, and lesions of thyroid origin. While overall rare, they may result in significant morbidity and mortality. Advances in both prenatal imaging and surgical care have substantially improved outcomes for these patients. In this paper, we will review the imaging techniques used in evaluation of fetal neck and oral cavity masses, discuss the role of imaging in assisting the fetal care team in management decisions, and explore a variety of neck and oral cavity masses with focus on their imaging features in the fetus.

Keywords: Fetus; Magnetic resonance imaging; Neck masses; Prenatal diagnosis; Teratoma; Vascular malformations.