Fibromatosis colli is an overgrowth of fibroblasts that causes a mass in the neck region, leading to reduced head movement. Diagnosis is based on history, appearance, and microscopic examination. Treatment is usually watchful waiting, but surgery may be necessary in some cases.
Fibromatosis colli, also known as sternomastoid cancer of infancy, is an overgrowth of cells that typically occurs in newborns. It represents the unregulated growth of fibroblasts, a cell type important for maintaining the structural integrity of the body. Symptoms of the tumor include the appearance of a mass in the lateral region of the neck and the inability to fully rotate the head. The diagnosis of fibromatosis colli is based on the clinical history, radiographic imaging, and microscopic characteristics of a sample of the mass. Although no treatment is usually required for these tumors because they regress on their own, in some cases they must be surgically removed.
The growth, or tumor, known as fibromatosis colli is typically a harmless overgrowth of a type of cell called fibroblasts. Usually these cells are important for making collagen and other substances that support the structure of the body. In fibromatosis colli, these cells reproduce in an unregulated manner, causing a mass to appear.
One of the most prominent symptoms of fibromatosis of the neck is the development of a mass in the neck region. This type of tumor typically appears in the underside of a muscle called the sternocleidomastoid muscle, which helps the neck rotate the head from side to side. As a result of growing up, some affected children have a reduced ability to move their heads and may have their heads permanently twisted in one direction or the other, a condition known as torticollis.
The diagnosis of fibromatosis colli is made on the basis of the history of growth development, the appearance of the tumor and the characteristics of the tumor under a microscope. A classic story a parent might give of developing cancer is the appearance of a lump in the second or third week of life that grows rapidly over the following months. Typically a dermatologist or other doctor will take a sample of the growth to examine its characteristics under a microscope and confirm that it does not have any worrying characteristics that might suggest it could develop into cancer. Sometimes a radiological technique known as ultrasound, which uses sound waves to discern characteristics of underlying structures, can help diagnose this tumor.
Treatment of fibromatosis of the neck typically focuses on watchful waiting. Most of these growths resolve on their own over time and do not need to be removed surgically. In some cases, however, the microscopic features are worrisome, suggesting that the cells may have the ability to grow and spread to other regions of the body. If a tumor with worrying characteristics is found, it is usually surgically removed to prevent it from harming the baby.
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