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Suggest Treatment For Lump On Neck
Posted on
Mon, 8 Sep 2014
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Mon, 8 Sep 2014
Answered on
Wed, 1 Oct 2014
Last reviewed on
Question : Hi,
I went to see a doctor today because about a week ago I noticed maybe a gum ball size lump on right side of my neck. I'm not sick, no temperature, not even the sniffles! It just sort of came out of no where. Then last night I noticed all the sudden there was another lump RIGHT above collarbone on same side (right side). It is a little smaller than the other one. (they haven't been hurting much, but are fairly hard) Doctor felt both and ordered me an ultrasound for next week. I'm concerned. Is there a good chance it is cancer? My mom had cancer so I'm not terrified, but I would like to be prepared if that's a good possibility.
I went to see a doctor today because about a week ago I noticed maybe a gum ball size lump on right side of my neck. I'm not sick, no temperature, not even the sniffles! It just sort of came out of no where. Then last night I noticed all the sudden there was another lump RIGHT above collarbone on same side (right side). It is a little smaller than the other one. (they haven't been hurting much, but are fairly hard) Doctor felt both and ordered me an ultrasound for next week. I'm concerned. Is there a good chance it is cancer? My mom had cancer so I'm not terrified, but I would like to be prepared if that's a good possibility.
Brief Answer:
As below:
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for your query.
1. The most common cause for these multiple lumps in the right side of the neck would be lymph node enlargement.
2. Small sub-centimeter sized nodes are most likely to be reactive lymph nodes. This can have many causes besides viral infections such as allergies, chronic infections, foreign body reactions and many other rare causes. Lymph normally flows to the next level of nodes hence the inflammation does reach the next levels of nodes as in your case.
3. The Ultrasound of the Neck is an important investigation to locate the number and size of these swellings.
4. Cancer would be later on the list of possibilities. It is better to wait for the Ultrasound result than to jump to this conclusion.
5. An FNAC (Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology) may be required in addition to blood tests and further imaging if there is no response to medication.
I hope I have answered your query. If you have any further questions I will be available to answer them.
Regards.
As below:
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for your query.
1. The most common cause for these multiple lumps in the right side of the neck would be lymph node enlargement.
2. Small sub-centimeter sized nodes are most likely to be reactive lymph nodes. This can have many causes besides viral infections such as allergies, chronic infections, foreign body reactions and many other rare causes. Lymph normally flows to the next level of nodes hence the inflammation does reach the next levels of nodes as in your case.
3. The Ultrasound of the Neck is an important investigation to locate the number and size of these swellings.
4. Cancer would be later on the list of possibilities. It is better to wait for the Ultrasound result than to jump to this conclusion.
5. An FNAC (Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology) may be required in addition to blood tests and further imaging if there is no response to medication.
I hope I have answered your query. If you have any further questions I will be available to answer them.
Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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