What Does A Painless Knot Over The Left Clavicular Area Indicate?

Posted on Thu, 10 Sep 2015

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

Thu, 10 Sep 2015 Answered on

Thu, 1 Oct 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : I had a 1.5" painless knot pop up on my left clavicle. My left shoulder has been “popping” a lot, but it hasn’t caused me pain. The radiologist report says: "Question marginal irregularity of the anterior corner of the medial left clavicle, without discrete bony destructive change, expansion, or obvious mass." My dr said to let her know if it gets bigger; she had no explanation. What could possibly cause this knot?

Answered by Dr. Indu Kumar (37 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Painless knot over clavicular area is generally due to enlarged lymph node.

Detailed Answer:
Hello

Painless knot over clavicular area is generally due to enlarged lymph node.This area is common for lymph node enlargement.It may be due to infection in head and neck area.However other superficial lesions like lipoma,neurofibroma etc should also be excluded.
Subtle marginal irregularity in left clavicular area may be an incidental finding and it can be ignored.
You may need clinical correlation and ultrasound of involved area.
These finding may only need only follow up.

Get well soon.
Hope I have answered your question.
Further queries are most welcome.

Take Care
Dr.Indu XXXXXXX

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Indu Kumar (15 hours later)

Thank you for your reply. This was a CT scan with contrast. If it were a lymph node, wouldn't it show on the study, therefore it would say on the report it was a lymph node?

Answered by Dr. Indu Kumar (54 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Small lymph node may be ignored in CT report.

Detailed Answer:
Hello

I presume that you strongly feel knot over clavicle.Small lymph node may be ignored in CT report as mostly it is due to benign reason.
Clinical correlation and ultrasound is more sensitive to detect such superficial lesions.
If clinician and ultrasound doesn't indicate knot then it may be ignored.

Get well soon.
Hope I have answered your question.
Further queries are most welcome.

Take Care
Dr.Indu XXXXXXX

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar