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What Does A Lump On Ribs Indicate?
Question: I am a 40-year-old overweight female. I have recently found a soft squishy lump on the ribs, near my floating rib, but I'm pretty sure it's a few ribs above that. I is about 2" long and about the width of a rib. When I first noticed it, it was not painful. Now, it's been a couple of months and when I spend a lot of time on that side (I sleep on that side), it is sore. I have no unexplained weight loss, no abdominal symptoms, no history of cancer. Other than this and my obesity, I'm a healthy person. Are there lymph nodes in this area? Should I be concerned? I mentioned it to my doctor, he was going to send me for an ultrasound but "forgot" to order it. When I asked about it, he said it sounds like adipose tissue and didn't feel an ultrasound was necessary. It wouldn't be sore if that was the case, correct?
Brief Answer:
Detailed below.
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Thank you for the query.
Lipoma (benign lump build of adipose tissue) does not give any pain at all. However if its large enough or localized near nerve (like rib nerve) it can cause the pain due to compression. But such pain is not localized in the lump but under it.
Lump which can be painful is a sebaceus cysts. It is also a benign lesion but filled with whitish masses. It gets infected from time to time what results with an abscess. Usually it gets hard and swollen in that time.
For sure there is nothing concerning in this lump. In both cases there is no risk of cancer and in both cases it can be removed by a surgeon.
To make the diagnosis clear soft tissues ultrasound is necessary.
Hope this will help. Feel free to ask further questions.
Regards.
Detailed below.
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Thank you for the query.
Lipoma (benign lump build of adipose tissue) does not give any pain at all. However if its large enough or localized near nerve (like rib nerve) it can cause the pain due to compression. But such pain is not localized in the lump but under it.
Lump which can be painful is a sebaceus cysts. It is also a benign lesion but filled with whitish masses. It gets infected from time to time what results with an abscess. Usually it gets hard and swollen in that time.
For sure there is nothing concerning in this lump. In both cases there is no risk of cancer and in both cases it can be removed by a surgeon.
To make the diagnosis clear soft tissues ultrasound is necessary.
Hope this will help. Feel free to ask further questions.
Regards.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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