A buffalo hump is a fat pad on the back of the neck caused by obesity, Cushing’s syndrome, or certain medications. Treatment depends on the underlying cause, which can be determined through a physical exam and diagnostic tests. Lifestyle changes, medication adjustments, and surgery may be recommended.
A buffalo hump is a pad of fat on the back of the neck between the shoulders. This hump, also called a dorsocervical fat pad, is a symptom of several medical conditions. Among the causes of this condition are obesity and Cushing’s syndrome. Dorsocervical fat pad treatments are based on the disease that led to the creation of the hump.
A person who has a dorsocervical fat pad should make an appointment with their doctor to determine the underlying cause of the buffalo hump. The doctor will conduct a physical exam and ask about the person’s medical history, such as what types of medications they are taking. Also, your doctor may request diagnostic tests. These tests might include blood or urine tests, a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) test of the head, or a computed tomography (CT) scan of the head or abdomen.
In addition to extreme obesity or Cushing’s syndrome, some medications prescribed to treat acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) can lead to a buffalo hump. Taking steroids for a long time can also result in a dorsocervical fat pad. Sometimes a hunch in the back isn’t a buffalo hump. For example, the curvature of the back that can occur from osteoporosis lacks the fat content.
If the diagnosis is Cushing’s syndrome, other symptoms the person may experience include muscle weakness, facial flushing, and bone loss. This syndrome is caused by the body making too much of the hormone cortisol or by a person taking too many corticosteroid medications. Treatments include slowly decreasing the amount of corticosteroid medication consumed, radiation therapy, surgery, medications, or a combination of treatments. Cushing’s syndrome is potentially life-threatening.
Protease inhibitors (PIs) are drugs used to treat AIDS. PIs can affect how the body metabolizes and stores fat in the body, resulting in fat abnormalities such as buffalo humps. The person’s doctor may recommend switching to another type of AIDS drug or may recommend reducing PI dosages. In some cases the doctor may recommend keeping the PIs at current levels because the PIs are working so well for the individual.
When a buffalo hump is caused by obesity, a doctor may recommend lifestyle changes. These lifestyle changes would include starting a low-fat diet and starting a sensible exercise program designed to slowly and safely lose weight. The size of the hump may begin to shrink as the body loses fat overall.
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