Final answer:
Diseases that appear as lumps on the midline neck include thyroid nodules, goiter, thyroglossal duct cysts, and branchial cleft cysts. They may accompany various symptoms that warrant medical attention.
Step-by-step explanation:
There are several diseases that can present as lumps in the neck, typically occurring along the midline.
These are often related to structures such as the thyroid gland, thyroid cartilage of the larynx, parathyroid glands, and the trachea.
- Thyroid nodules: These are growths that form within the thyroid gland and can sometimes be felt as a lump in the front of the neck.
- Goiter: An enlargement of the thyroid gland that can appear as a swelling at the base of the neck.
- Thyroglossal duct cyst: A benign cyst that forms along the tract the thyroid gland follows during development from the base of the tongue to its current location in the neck.
- Branchial cleft cyst: A type of benign congenital neck cyst that can appear along the midline or sides of the neck.
These conditions can sometimes be accompanied by symptoms such as unusual bleeding or discharge, chronic indigestion or difficulty swallowing, obvious changes in a wart or mole, and persistent coughing or hoarseness, indicating the need for a medical evaluation.