Photoclinic Diagnosis: Plexiform Neurofibroma in the Parapharyngeal Neck Space

A4 ½-year-old boy with neck masses was admitted to the Otolaryngology Ward of Shaheed Rahnemoon Hospital in Yazd (the Center of Yazd Province in the central part of Iran). The neck masses had been noticed 2 years before and had not improved after three courses of antibiotic therapy. There was no medical or surgical problem except a herniorrhaphy done five months before admission. The patient appeared normal and alert and had normal vital signs. There was no pigmentation, mass, or ulceration on the other parts of the body. On otolaryngologic examination, there were no abnormal findings; there was no swelling or bulging on the posterior or lateral walls of the oral cavity or oropharynx. On neck examination, there were two left-sided neck masses, one 3 x 4 cm and the other 2 x 2 cm; the former was located in the anterior border of sternocleidomastoid muscle and the latter in the postauricular area on the posterosuperior border of the neck region. They were mobile with slight tenderness without extension to the surrounding tissues. The masses showed no signs of inflammation such as severe tenderness, erythema, or warmness.