lump lower neck collar bone

Lump in lower neck near collar bone

It may be surprising and upsetting when you discover a lump on your neck that you haven’t previously noticed. The good news is that neck lumps are common and most often harmless. They can come in different sizes and textures, and they’re usually non-cancerous.

But there are a few types of lumps that could be a sign of a more serious condition, and you can’t detect these through simple home evaluations.

Visiting an ear, nose, and throat specialist such as those on our team at Lawrence Otolaryngology Associates is always a good idea if you notice a neck mass. Chances are good you have nothing to worry about, and as with many health issues, early detection and medical treatment leads to the best prognosis.

Today we discuss a few of the more common causes of neck masses, but if you have any questions or concerns, call to make an appointment with Lawrence Otolaryngology Associates at one of our three locations.

Enlarged lymph nodes

Whenever your body experiences an infection, your lymph nodes may become swollen because they are filter tissues that store white blood cells needed to fight infection. They also store dead cells and bacteria to be flushed from your body. As well as causing lumps on either side of your neck, lymph nodes are located in your armpits, under the jaw, in the groin, and above your collarbone.

Thyroid nodules

Either fluid-filled or solid, thyroid nodules are usually harmless, but they can indicate an autoimmune disorder or cancer. In addition to a lump on your neck, a thyroid nodule could cause a cough or difficulty swallowing. Your voice may be hoarse, and you may have pain in your neck and throat.

Infectious mononucleosis

A viral condition that most often affects people of high school and college age, mononucleosis can cause neck lumps due to swollen lymph nodes as well as symptoms similar to thyroid nodules. In addition, you may have headaches and overall fatigue. Body aches and night sweats are also frequent symptoms.

Mumps

The mumps virus is very contagious, spreading through mucus, saliva, and close contact with those infected. The salivary glands swell, causing pain through increased pressure, usually felt at the rear of the cheeks. You could feel fatigued and achy, with accompanying fever, headache, and loss of appetite.

Lipoma

The neck is a common spot for lipomas to develop. These are fatty tissue deposits that can occur at any age, but that generally don’t affect children. Lipomas usually aren’t painful and won’t cause other problems. But a type of cancer called liposarcoma can resemble a lipoma, so you may need a biopsy to confirm your lump is benign.

Cancers

Skin and other types of cancers can lead to bumps on your neck. Some types of skin cancer cause raised growths that are often a different color. Throat and thyroid cancers produce lumps that are under the surface of the skin, pushing out and causing difficulty with swallowing and breathing in some cases.

There are many more causes that could be behind the mass on your neck. For a diagnosis and treatment, call one of our three locations to schedule an appointment.

A Closer Look at Your Vocal Cords and What Can Go Wrong

The sound of your voice occurs because of the function of two smooth bands of muscle in your throat. Misuse or overuse of your voice is the biggest reason for vocal cord problems, which may be affected in a variety of ways.

Problems That Can Occur if Your Child Has a Tongue Tie

Tongue-tie is a problem when a band of tissue under the tongue is short or tight, affecting normal range of motion. It won’t always cause problems for a child, but it might in severe cases. A simple surgical procedure corrects the issue.

Am I at Risk for Vertigo?

Vertigo is a symptom that’s connected with a wide range of medical conditions, but it’s dominated by a condition that’s harmless, except for a greater risk of falling. Virtually everyone can experience vertigo, but your chances increase as you age.

How Loud Noises Affect Your Hearing Over Time

Loud noises can cause hearing loss, at the time of exposure and cumulatively, after repeated exposures. Single events may result in temporary effects, but long-term exposure usually causes permanent hearing loss.

4 Reasons You Keep Getting Sinusitis

When your head is stuffy because of a cold or flu, you have sinusitis. It makes your life miserable for about 10 days, and then goes away — unless you have a chronic form of the problem. These are four reasons why your sinusitis may be recurrent.

What You Need to Know About Three Kinds of Skin Cancer

While you may not think of an ear, nose, and throat doctor as the go-to practitioner for skin cancer, head and neck tumors are indeed part of their practice. Here’s what you need to know about the most common forms of the disease.

What does a cancerous neck lump feel like?

What does a cancerous lymph node feel like? Cancerous lymph nodes can occur anywhere on the neck and are typically described as firm, painless, and sometimes may be immovable. A lump will form when a cancer cell infiltrates the capsule and multiplies.

Why do I have a lump on my neck near my collarbone?

Swollen lymph nodes Lymph nodes can become swollen if you have an injury or are fighting an infection or other illness. This is because your body carries more white blood cells to this area to combat the problem. This can result in swelling and a lump near your collarbone.

Is there a lymph node near your collarbone?

The supraclavicular lymph nodes are a set of lymph nodes found just above the clavicle or collarbone, toward the hollow of the neck.

What does a lump at the base of the neck mean?

The most common lumps or swellings are enlarged lymph nodes. These can be caused by bacterial or viral infections, cancer (malignancy), or other rare causes. Swollen salivary glands under the jaw may be caused by infection or cancer. Lumps in the muscles of the neck are caused by injury or torticollis.