Differential Diagnosis for Neck Swelling after Trauma
Single Most Likely Diagnosis
- Hematoma: This is the most likely diagnosis due to the trauma, as it can cause bleeding into the soft tissues of the neck, leading to swelling.
Other Likely Diagnoses
- Soft tissue injury: Trauma can result in injury to the muscles, tendons, and ligaments of the neck, causing swelling and pain.
- Lymphadenitis: Infection or inflammation of the lymph nodes in the neck can cause swelling, especially if the trauma introduced bacteria into the tissue.
- Salivary gland injury: If the trauma involved the salivary glands, it could lead to swelling due to inflammation or infection.
Do Not Miss Diagnoses
- Traumatic vascular injury: This includes injuries to the carotid or vertebral arteries, which could lead to severe bleeding, stroke, or death if not promptly diagnosed and treated.
- Laryngeal or tracheal injury: Damage to the airway can be life-threatening and requires immediate attention.
- Esophageal injury: Perforation or rupture of the esophagus can lead to severe infection and death if not promptly treated.
- Spinal injury: Trauma to the neck can also involve the spine, potentially leading to spinal cord injury, which is a medical emergency.
Rare Diagnoses
- Thyroid gland injury: Although rare, trauma can cause injury to the thyroid gland, leading to swelling and potentially affecting thyroid function.
- Parotid gland injury: Similar to salivary gland injury, but specifically involving the parotid gland, which could lead to swelling and other complications.
- Neck abscess: A collection of pus in the tissues of the neck, which could be a complication of trauma if bacteria were introduced into the wound.