Background/Purpose: The objectives of this study were: 1) to determine the incidence of lymphoproliferative disorders in a cohort of patients requiring a biopsy at a tertiary pediatric center; and 2) to elucidate the demographic, clinical, laboratory and diagnostic imaging characteristics associated with a malignant diagnosis.
Methods: A retrospective review of pediatric cervical lymph node biopsies performed between 2012 and 2019 at a tertiary center was undertaken. Demographic data, clinical presentations, laboratory results, diagnostic imaging findings, and pathology results were compiled and analyzed to identify characteristics associated with a malignant diagnosis.
Results: Malignancy was identified in 49.5% of patients (55/111) subjected to a cervical lymph node biopsy. The median age of patients with a benign diagnosis was lower than malignant diagnosis (11.0 vs. 14.0 years, p
