Glossary for Neck pain

Medical terms related to Neck pain or mentioned in this section include:

• Abscess: This is an area of puss collected in a cavity which is constituted by necrotised tissue
• Adenocarcinoma, Follicular: A type of cancer of the thyroid gland.
• Aneurysm, intracranial berry: A bulge in a blood vessel in the brain. The bulge can rupture causing a stroke. They usually form as a result of high blood pressure and weak blood vessel walls in the brain. There are five different subtypes of intracranial berry aneurysms with each one caused by a defect in different gene. The defective gene increases and individuals risk for developing intracranial berry aneurysms.
• Aneurysm, intracranial berry, 1: A bulge in a blood vessel in the brain. The bulge can rupture causing a stroke. They usually form as a result of high blood pressure and weak blood vessel walls in the brain. There are five different subtypes of intracranial berry aneurysms with each one caused by a defect in different gene. The defective gene increases and individuals risk for developing intracranial berry aneurysms. Type 1 is caused by a defect on chromosome 7q11.2.
• Aneurysm, intracranial berry, 2: A bulge in a blood vessel in the brain. The bulge can rupture causing a stroke. They usually form as a result of high blood pressure and weak blood vessel walls in the brain. There are five different subtypes of intracranial berry aneurysms with each one caused by a defect in different gene. The defective gene increases and individuals risk for developing intracranial berry aneurysms. Type 2 is caused by a defect on chromosome 19q13.
• Aneurysm, intracranial berry, 3: A bulge in a blood vessel in the brain. The bulge can rupture causing a stroke. They usually form as a result of high blood pressure and weak blood vessel walls in the brain. There are five different subtypes of intracranial berry aneurysms with each one caused by a defect in different gene. The defective gene increases and individuals risk for developing intracranial berry aneurysms. Type 3 is caused by a defect on chromosome 1p36.13-p34.3.
• Aneurysm, intracranial berry, 4: A bulge in a blood vessel in the brain. The bulge can rupture causing a stroke. They usually form as a result of high blood pressure and weak blood vessel walls in the brain. There are five different subtypes of intracranial berry aneurysms with each one caused by a defect in different gene. The defective gene increases and individuals risk for developing intracranial berry aneurysms. Type 4 is caused by a defect on chromosome 5p15.2-14.3.
• Aneurysm, intracranial berry, 5: A bulge in a blood vessel in the brain. The bulge can rupture causing a stroke. They usually form as a result of high blood pressure and weak blood vessel walls in the brain. There are five different subtypes of intracranial berry aneurysms with each one caused by a defect in different gene. The defective gene increases and individuals risk for developing intracranial berry aneurysms. Type 5 is caused by a defect on chromosome 2p13.
• Aneurysm, intracranial berry, 6: A bulge in a blood vessel in the brain. The bulge can rupture causing a stroke. They usually form as a result of high blood pressure and weak blood vessel walls in the brain. There are now six different subtypes of intracranial berry aneurysms with each one caused by a defect in different gene. The defective gene increases an individuals risk for developing intracranial berry aneurysms. Type 6 is caused by a defect on chromosome 9p21.
• Aneurysm, intracranial berry, 7: A bulge in a blood vessel in the brain. The bulge can rupture causing a stroke. They usually form as a result of high blood pressure and weak blood vessel walls in the brain. There are five different subtypes of intracranial berry aneurysms with each one caused by a defect in different gene. The defective gene increases and individuals risk for developing intracranial berry aneurysms. Type 7 is caused by a defect on chromosome 11q24-q25.
• Aneurysm, intracranial berry, 8: A bulge in a blood vessel in the brain. The bulge can rupture causing a stroke. They usually form as a result of high blood pressure and weak blood vessel walls in the brain. There are five different subtypes of intracranial berry aneurysms with each one caused by a defect in different gene. The defective gene increases and individuals risk for developing intracranial berry aneurysms. Type 8 is caused by a defect on chromosome 14q23.
• Aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage: Bleeding in the space around the brain that occurs from a leak in a weakened or dilated blood vessel under the arachnoid layer of the brain. Death can occur if treatment is not prompt.
• Angina: Angina is a particular type of pain related to heart conditions
• Angiostrongyliasis: Infection by a parasitic worm (Angiostrongylus). Infection can occur through eating contaminated raw animals such as snails, slugs, prawns or crabs which act as hosts to these parasites.
• Ankylosing Spondylitis: A form of chronic inflammation of the spine which may also affect joints in the shoulder, hip, neck, ribs and jaw. May result in loss of mobility. Also called Marie-Strumpell disease.
• Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic: Bulging and weakness of the aorta in the area of the chest. The condition is life-threatening as death can occur rapidly if the aneurysm bursts.
• Arnold-Chiari Malformation (Type 1): A rare malformation where the base of the brain enters into the upper spinal canal.
• Arthritis: A condition which is characterized by the inflammation of a joint
• Atlanto-Axial Fusion: A congenital anomaly where the first neck vertebrae is fused to the skull.
• Autoimmune Myelopathy: A disturbance functionally or pathological change in the spinal cord
• Back tumour: The presence of tumour growth in the vertebra, whether due to primary malignancies e.g. leukaemic or myeloma infiltration of the bone marrow, or due to secondary metastases from another site e.g. lung or breast.
• Barrett syndrome: A chronic peptic ulcer of the esophagus.
• Basilar impression primary: A congenital bone abnormality where the skull and vertebrae meet which can compress some of the brain structures and result in neurological abnormalities. The defect is often associated with other vertebral abnormalities. In severe cases, the cerebrospinal fluid flow may be obstructed which can cause fluid to build up inside the skull (hydrocephalus).
• Carcinoma, squamous cell of head and neck: A type of cancer that occurs in the mucosal lining of parts of the head and neck e.g. esophagus, sinuses, nasal cavity, pharynx, mouth and lips. Symptoms will vary depending on the exact location of the cancer.
• Cervical Spondylosis: Condition where bony changes within the cervical spine causes spinal cord compression with associated neck pain; usually seen in patients over 40 years of age.
• Cervicogenic headache: Cervicogenic headache is a syndrome characterized by chronic hemicranial pain that is referred to the head from either bony structures or soft tissues of the neck.
• Chemical poisoning - Helium: Helium is a chemical used mainly in helium balloons, neon signs and diving gas. The gas is sometimes misused as an inhalant. Ingestion and other exposures to the chemical can cause various symptoms. The type and severity of symptoms varies depending on the amount of chemical involved and the nature of the exposure.
• Chordoma: Chordomas are tumors originating from embryonic remnants of the primitive notochord
• Chronic Neck pain: Neck pain can occur anywhere in the neck, from the bottom of the head to the top of the shoulders. It can spread to the upper back or arms.
• Common symptoms: The most common symptoms
• Degenerative Disc Disease: Chronic or recurrent back and neck pain due to degeneration and occasionally prolapse of spinal discs.
• Disc Disorders: Disorders that affect the discs of the spine
• Discitis: A subacute infection of the vertebral discs that usually occurs in children.
• Facet syndrome: An irritation, sprain or strain involving the vertebral joints of the spine. The exact symptoms may vary depending on the part of the spine involved. The condition most often results osteoarthritis, degenerative disc disease or injury.
• Fractures: Breakage of bones
• Gerlier disease: A disease that occurs usually in farm workers who are exposed to cattle. The condition is usually seen in some parts of Switzerland. Symptoms tend to resolve themselves within a few months.
• Hashimoto's thyroiditis: A progressive disease of the thyroid which leads to degeneration and hypothyroidism
• Head injury: Any injury that occurs to the head
• Heart attack: An acute myocardial infarction
• Hilger syndrome: A type of headache caused by dilation of the carotid arteries and their branches. It may follow a viral illness, be associated with arteriosclerosis or occur for no obvious reason. Treatment and prognosis is determined by the cause.
• Hip cancer: The presence of tumour growth in the bone of the hip, whether due to primary malignancies e.g. leukaemic or myeloma infiltration of the bone marrow, or due to secondary metastases from another site e.g. lung or breast; cancer affecting bone of hip likely to affect other bones e.g. vertebra, ribs
• Infection: Infections as a symptom.
• Inheritable disorders of connective tissue: Disorders that affect the connective tissue of the body that are handed down from generation to generation
• Intervertebral disc disease: Degenerative changes in the discs located between vertebrae. The severity of the disorder is variable.
• Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis: Chronic arthritis affecting children and teens
• Laryngeal carcinoma: Cancer of the laryngeal area. Smoking and alcohol increase the risk of this cancer.
• Lyme disease: Lyme disease is an emerging infectious disease caused by at least three species of bacteria belonging to the genus Borrelia.
• Lymphadenitis: Inflammation that occurs in the lymph nodes
• Madelung's disease: A rare disorder involving defective fat metabolism which leads to a buildup of fat deposits in neck and shoulder area. Mainly occurs in male alcoholics.
• Meningitis: Infection of the membrane around the brain (as a symptom)
• Meningococcal disease: Dangerous bacterial infection causing meningitis or bacteremia.
• Metastatic squamous neck cancer with occult primary: A type of cancer that occurs in the neck and has spread (metastasized) to the lymph nodes from a primary source that has not been able to be determined. Squamous cells are cells that line hollow organs as well as the skin and throat.
• Migraine: Severe complex headaches that occur periodically
• Mononucleosis: Common infectious virus.
• Muscle contraction headache: Headache from tension or muscle contraction.
• Myelopathy: Myelopathy is any disease process that effects the spinal cord.
• Nasopharyngeal carcinoma: A malignant cancer that occurs in the nasopharynx area which is the upper part of the throat. Often there are no symptoms until the cancer has metastasized to other parts of the body such as the neck.
• Neck Arthritis: Degenerative arthritic changes in the neck causing pain and loss of function; may be due to age-related degenerative change (osteoarthritis) or due to autoimmune disease (rheumatoid arthritis)
• Neck Spasm: Contraction of muscles in the neck causing a spasm.
• Neck conditions: Any condition that affects the neck
• Neck injury: Any injury that occurs to the neck
• Neck muscle strain: Damage to the neck muscle due to over-stretching of the muscle tissue. The damage involves tearing the muscle tissue. Small blood vessels may also be damaged which can cause bruising. The symptoms may vary from mild to severe depending on the severity of the damage. Neck strain is most often caused by whiplash in vehicle accidents.
• Neck sprain:
• Neck stiffness: The feeling of neck stiffness
• Neck symptoms: Symptoms affecting the neck
• Nerve symptoms: Symptoms affecting the nerves
• Optic neuropathy, anterior ischemic: Impaired vision due to optic nerve damage caused by problems with the blood supply to the nerve. The non-arteritic form is caused by and interrupted blood supply to the optic disk. Usually one eye is affected first and maybe eventually be followed by the other. Often only part of the visual field is affected.
• Osteomyelitis: An infection that occurs in bone
• Pain: Any type of pain sensation symptoms.
• Pharyngitis: Inflammation of the pharynx.
• Polymyalgia rheumatica: A condition characterized by muscle pain and stiffness, fatigue and fever. It is often associated with giant-cell arteritis which is a related but more serious condition.
• Posture symptoms: Symptoms related to body posture
• Quinsy: Tonsil abscess
• Retropharyngeal abscess: The high mortality rate of retropharyngeal abscess is owing to its association with airway obstruction
• Rheumatoid arthritis: An autoimmune inflammatory condition which primarily affects the joints
• Rib symptoms: Symptoms affecting the ribs
• Riedel syndrome: A rare condition that occurs when fibrous tissue forms in the thyroid area and progressively destroys the thyroid gland.
• Rubella: A contagious viral infection caused by the Rubella virus which produces a rash and lymph node swelling. It can have serious implication in pregnant women as the virus can be transmitted through the placenta and cause serious fetal defects or even fetal death.
• SAPHO syndrome: A rare disorder involving skin (acne, pustulosis), bone (hyperostosis, osteitis) and joint problems.
• Sensations: Changes to sensations or the senses
• Sinusitis: Inflammation of the sinus passages (as a symptom)
• Sore throat: Discomfort in the throat or with swallowing
• Spasmodic Torticollis: Recurrent sudden and single lateral movements of the neck.
• Spinal arthritis: Inflammation of the spine joints. The inflammation can be the result of such things as degenerative joint disease, gout, infection, trauma and autoimmune conditions.
• Spinal conditions: Any condition that affects the spine
• Spondylolisthesis: forward slippage of one vertebra over another.
• Spondylosis: Spinal degeneration of the discs or spinal joints
• Subacute granulomatous thyroiditis: Subacute thyroiditis is a self-limited thyroid condition associated with a triphasic clinical course of hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, and return to normal thyroid function.
• Subarachnoid hemorrhage: subarachnoid hemorrhage is bleeding in the area between the brain and the thin tissues that cover the brain. This area is called the subarachnoid space
• Swollen neck lymph nodes: Swollen lymph nodes in the neck region
• Syphilitic aseptic meningitis: A chronic syphilis infection which affects the nervous system.
• Syringomyelia, cervical lesion: A slowly-progressing neurological disorder characterized by a fulid-filled cavity in the spinal cord in the neck region.
• Temporo-mandibular ankylosis: A disorder involving stiffness or fusion of the jaw joint which affects the ability of the jaw to open and close normally. The condition may occur congenitally or may be acquired through such things as trauma.
• Tension headache: constant headache which is frequently bilateral in presentation, which is mild to moderate in nature
• Thoracic outlet syndrome TOS: A rare disorder involving compression or damage to the nerves and blood vessels that go from the neck to the arms or armpit. It may occur as a birth defect or through some sort of traumato the shoulder area. It can causes symptoms such as arm pain and weakness and can occur on one or both sides depending on the nature of the cause.
• Throat infection: A condition which is characterized by an infection which is located in the throat
• Throat symptoms: Symptoms affecting the throat
• Thymus Cancer: Cancer that occurs in the thymus
• Thymus disorders: Any disorder that affects the thymus
• Thyroglossal tract cyst: A rare condition where a soft, slow-growing growth develops at the front of the neck. It occurs as an abnormal growth that develops from thyroid tissue that is left over from fetal development.
• Thyroid cancer, Hurthle cell: A rare form of cancer that originates in the thyroid gland. This cancer is characterized by the abnormal presence of Hurthle cells which may signify benign or malignant thyroid cancer. The cancer usually responds well to treatment if detected in the earlier stages.
• Thyroid cancer, anaplastic: A thyroid gland cancer that is quite aggressive and metastasizes to other parts of the body.
• Thyroid symptoms: Symptoms affecting the thyroid gland
• Thyroiditis: Inflammation of the thyroid gland.
• Torticollis: Twisted neck
• Vertebral Artery Dissection: A tear that develops in the verebral artery and tends to result in a stroke. It is the most common cause of stroke in young people. Vertebral artery dissections can be caused by trauma to the neck, manipulation of the spine (chiropractics), high blood pressure or even blowing the nose in some cases.
• Vocal nodules: A harmless growth that develops in the vocal chords usually as a result of vocal abuse or overuse.
• West Nile fever: Mosquito-borne infectious virus.
• West nile encephalitis: A virus that is of the Flavivirus genus that causes the condition West Nile encephalitis
• Whiplash: Neck injury often from a car accident.
• Whiplash Injuries: An injury to the neck when the neck is rapidly forced backward and then forwards or vice versa. It most commonly occurs in vehicle accidents when the vehicle is stopped abruptly or pushed forwards suddenly.
• Whiplash pain: Whiplash is when the soft tissues of the neck are injured by a sudden jerking or "whipping" of the head. This type of motion strains the muscles and ligaments of the neck beyond their normal range of motion.

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