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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Is The Lump On My Chest That Discharges A Foul Smelling Fluid?

Hi there, I have this lump on the center of my chest and it discharges fluid and also a smell like a dead animal. It is small in size and not painful when touched. i have this lump for more than 5 years now and lately it started to give that smell and discharge fliud when pressed

posted on Fri, 14 Mar 2014
Twitter Thu, 17 Jul 2014 Answered on
Twitter Fri, 18 Jul 2014 Last reviewed on
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Pathologist and Microbiologist,  's  Response
Hello and welcome to HCM,
Foul smelling discharge from a lump on the chest suggests infection in the lump.
The cause, origin and nature of the lump has to be known.
A X-ray or CT scan of the chest is required to know the site of origin of the lump- soft tissue or bony tissue.
An aspiration cytology of the lump needs to be done.
In aspiration cytology, cells are sampled from the lump, spread on slide and stained with appropriate stains.
This investigations helps to know the origin and nature of the lesion-neoplastic or non-neoplastic.
If neoplastic whether it is benign or malignant.
After knowing the exact nature of the lesion, further management is done.

The pus or the foul smelling discharge from the lump should be submitted for microscopic examination and appropriate antibiotics need to be instituted for treatment of infection.

Thanks and take care
Dr Shailja P Wahal



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What Is The Lump On My Chest That Discharges A Foul Smelling Fluid?

Hello and welcome to HCM, Foul smelling discharge from a lump on the chest suggests infection in the lump. The cause, origin and nature of the lump has to be known. A X-ray or CT scan of the chest is required to know the site of origin of the lump- soft tissue or bony tissue. An aspiration cytology of the lump needs to be done. In aspiration cytology, cells are sampled from the lump, spread on slide and stained with appropriate stains. This investigations helps to know the origin and nature of the lesion-neoplastic or non-neoplastic. If neoplastic whether it is benign or malignant. After knowing the exact nature of the lesion, further management is done. The pus or the foul smelling discharge from the lump should be submitted for microscopic examination and appropriate antibiotics need to be instituted for treatment of infection. Thanks and take care Dr Shailja P Wahal