What Do My Lab Test Reports Indicate?

Posted on Wed, 18 Oct 2017

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Wed, 18 Oct 2017 Answered on

Mon, 13 Nov 2017 Last reviewed on

Question : I have a palpable mass on the right side of my neck. It is hard and the size of three fingers! For this problem, I had a CT scan with contrast and an MRI, both show nothing significant other than age related degeneration and something called "mild edema within the right C-5- C-6 facet joint from degenerative change". I find it hard to believe given the size of this palpable mass that this "mild edema" is what the lump is. I have trouble turning my head, and the pain has been incredible. Other doctors I've seen say it is the SCM muscle out of whack. I am concerned it is such a large mass, that the MRI and CT scan may not show something serious like cancer, somehow. Should I get a petscan or a sonogram? I don't know where to turn or even what kind of doctor to see right now, I have also been to sacral cranial therapy with no luck. Right now I"m on muscle relaxers and prednisone. Sadly, my uncle did have spasmodic torticollis but I don't feel any "pulling" I just have pain.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Esmeralda Sera (18 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Mass in the neck

Detailed Answer:
Hello and thank you for asking

The Ct scan and the MRI are very confident exams and very helpful in such a case.In my opinion you should continue with your medication at the moment and wait for the results of this therapy.

I don’t think that this mass it’s something releated too the cancer in the moment that your exams didn’t show anything like that.If your doctor has had any doubt for the origin of this mass then the biopsy would was necessary.
You don’t need to have other exams.For your case you may consult a orthopedic doctor

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad