On many occasions, the presence of a lump on the neck or in any part of the body turns out to be an alarm that requires medical advice to decipher what is the cause of its appearance. In most cases, these lesions are benign, but some of them can be serious and even malignant.
For many people, these alterations go unnoticed since they cannot be seen with the naked eye. However, by touching them, it is possible to find them. The characteristics of these lumps, whether they are painful or not, and their location can help discover the cause of their appearance.
There are many causes capable of triggering the appearance of a lump in the neck, and these range from a simple cyst to the presence of tumors in which their resolution must be surgical. FastlyHealin this article, you will learn much more about b WORSHIP in the neck: causes and treatment.
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I lump the back of my neck: what could it be?
The nape is the region found in the back and upper part of the neck. It is the place where the head meets the neck. It is there where the presence of injuries known as lumps can occur, which are sometimes considered normal, but at certain times, they can generate concern according to their appearance, location, and symptoms.
Many of these lumps appear suddenly. Some go unnoticed, while others feel themselves, generating concern and uncertainty in the patient. Some are caused by alterations in the immune system, skin problems, fat accumulation in the area, infectious, inflammatory processes, or tumor lesions. The following section explains all the possible causes of a lump on the neck.
Why do I lump on the back of my neck – Medical causes
Many causes cause the appearance of injuries that give rise to lumps on the neck. Within them, it is necessary to mention:
Swelling of the lymph nodes
The swollen lymph nodes in the neck or neck can be produced by processes infectious bacterial or viral, capable of making changes in the area such as pharyngitis, laryngitis, skin infections, such as tuberculosis, syphilis, and even conditions of the viral type such as mononucleosis, eruptive diseases measles, rubella, toxoplasmosis.
Likewise, lupus or arthritis can trigger enlarged lymph nodes and the use of some medications.
Congenital causes
In this case, the lump on the nape is present from the moment of birth, although some of them may appear much later. They are more common in children and much less in adults. Among these causes are:
- Thyroglossal duct cysts: this cyst occurs in the middle and upper part of the neck. Its discovery is made during childhood or adulthood from the age of 20. In most cases, this injury has to do with an infectious process.
- Brachial cysts: this lesion is typical in children and is due to embryonic remains in the nape region. These cysts do not represent any health problem. Their size may vary due to the fact of an infectious process.
Vascular disorders
In this case, tumor lesions or hemangiomas in the blood vessels turn benign.
Sebaceous cysts
They are benign bumps of the skin produced by obstruction of the sebaceous gland. The sebum under the skin gives rise to this increase in volume, which can become painful the moment it becomes infected.
Lipomas
The accumulation of fat produces them. They are benign lesions like vascular disorders. In the vast majority of cases, they do not cause symptoms. You can see more details in the article Lipoma on the neck: causes, symptoms, and how to remove it.
Cancer lesions
This group includes tumors of the thyroid, tonsils, or tongue and the salivary and parathyroid glands.
Lymphoma
This is a carcinogenic lesion. It has its origin in the lymphatic system and develops without any control.
Presence of metastasis
This type of alteration can appear in the nape region due to a tumor lesion already existing in another part of the body.
Nape lump: diagnosis
To make an accurate diagnosis of a lump on the neck, a specialized medical evaluation is required according to the patient’s symptoms. This will begin with the physical examination, where the type of injury present in the neck region or other part of the body will be thoroughly examined. Then, we will proceed to request studies that complement the diagnosis. Among them are:
- Laboratory studies such as blood samples.
- X-ray, ultrasound, computed tomography.
- Lymph node biopsy or of the specific lesion located on the neck.
Treatment for the lump in the nape
The treatment of the lump in the neck will depend solely and exclusively on the diagnosis obtained by the specialist doctor.
In cases where there is the presence of a cyst of congenital origin, it must be surgically removed; in other cases, they will yield alone or with medical treatment. There are some situations where the person can live with the injury because it is not life-threatening.
In cases where the lump in the neck is the product of a cancerous lesion, you should go to the oncologist, the specialist in charge of treating cancer. He will indicate the treatment that the injury requires, either chemotherapy or radiotherapy.
If it is an inflammatory process, the treatment will be symptomatic, and analgesics and anti-inflammatories will be indicated.
The presence of a lump on the neck can generate uncertainty; therefore, it is advisable to go to a trusted doctor to obtain the precise diagnosis and, in this way, start the appropriate treatment in each case.
This article is merely informative. At FastlyHeal .com, we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor if you present any condition or discomfort.
If you want to read more articles similar to Lump in the neck: causes and treatment, we recommend that you enter our Immune system category.
I am a Surgeon with a diploma in comprehensive ultrasound and surgical care residency, an area I am specializing in. During the exercise of my profession, I have realized the need for patients to know the diseases they suffer, and I can tell you that a large part of their complications is due to a lack of information. Being a health web writer allows me to transmit my experience, without borders, to all those readers eager for knowledge, educate them in the prevention of diseases and promote a healthy lifestyle.