A neck lump can be caused by swollen glands, abscesses, cysts, benign tumors, or cancer. Swollen lymph nodes are the most common type and are usually caused by infections, but cancer can also be a cause. Other causes include sebaceous cysts, dermoid cysts, lipomas, salivary gland stones, and thyroid diseases. Treatment options include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and thyroid hormone replacement.
A neck lump, sometimes referred to as a neck mass, is any swelling that can be seen or felt in the neck. In most cases, a lump in the neck turns out to be benign or non-cancerous. Causes of lumps in the neck include swollen glands, abscesses, cysts, and benign tumors, as well as cancer. Cancerous or malignant tumors are more likely to occur in older people.
Probably the most common type of lump in the neck is a swollen gland or lymph node. Lymph nodes are often swollen due to an infection, such as a virus that affects the throat, but sometimes cancer may be the cause. Infections generally go away on their own in a couple of weeks or so, but a lingering lump should be investigated. Scans and x-rays may be done and a fine needle inserted into the lump in the neck to take a small sample. Any malignant nodules are treated by a cancer doctor, who specializes in cancer, and possible treatments include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery.
A neck lump located within the skin is often a harmless swelling, known as a sebaceous cyst. These usually don’t need treatment, but are sometimes removed if they get too big. Another type of neck cyst, known as a dermoid cyst, is present from birth and contains various tissues such as fat and hair. Fatty growths, called lipomas, can also appear on the skin of the neck. Both a dermoid cyst and a lipoma are typically benign and can be surgically removed.
Sometimes a salivary gland becomes enlarged due to the formation of a stone that blocks the outlet duct. This can cause neck pain, felt at the start of a meal, because saliva is unable to flow, and there may be further pain if the gland becomes infected. Occasionally, an abscess may develop, leading a person to feel generally unwell with a high temperature. The stones can go away on their own or can be removed using keyhole or traditional surgical techniques and are sometimes broken with shock waves. Rarely, a painless swelling of a salivary gland may be due to cancer, requiring referral to an oncology specialist.
Diseases of the thyroid gland occasionally cause a lump in the neck, which usually moves when a person swallows. Causes of generalized swelling include hyperthyroidism or an underactive thyroid and hypothyroidism or an underactive thyroid. Sometimes there are multiple lumps, which are usually benign, or a single lump, which could be a cyst, a benign tumor, or, rarely, a form of cancer. An underactive thyroid is normally treated with thyroid hormone replacement, while an overactive thyroid can be treated with medications, radioactive iodine that destroys thyroid cells, or surgery. Most thyroid nodules are benign and can be removed or monitored over time, and malignant nodules are also often treatable.
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