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Suggest Treatment For Bloating, Lump On Back And Left Side Of Neck
Question: About a month ago I noticed a small lump on my back - left side of neck almost parallel with my ear lobe (but not under it - the right of it if you are facing the back of my head). I also noticed an even smaller one on the back of my neck - right side. It seems that this has actually grown in the last week so it's a concern although I don't know if a cancerous lymph node would actually grow that fast... I have no other symptoms with the exception of a possible bloated abdomen but I'm not sure if that's actually bloated vs having some extra fat in that area.
Brief Answer:
Watch over it cautiously...
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Yes, the lump you see are most likely enlarged lymphnode. Some of these nodes take a month or two to regress, while some may persist for life.
The site you mentioned are not the common areas where a cancerous growth would be. Therefore let's not consider cancer at this point of time. The growth could be secondary to reactive changes or even subclinical ear and throat infection. You can opt to consult your local physician and run some blood test to see if there are features of infection. The blood test should include viral markers and chronic infection. If there is any suspicion regarding the nature of growth, a simple excision biopsy can be performed to clarify.
In short, though I cannot rule out cancer growth; but your symptoms and the progress of the 2 lymph node are very subtle and should not take your peace of mind. Get those test done.
Hope this helped. Let me know if you need clarifications.
Regards
Watch over it cautiously...
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Yes, the lump you see are most likely enlarged lymphnode. Some of these nodes take a month or two to regress, while some may persist for life.
The site you mentioned are not the common areas where a cancerous growth would be. Therefore let's not consider cancer at this point of time. The growth could be secondary to reactive changes or even subclinical ear and throat infection. You can opt to consult your local physician and run some blood test to see if there are features of infection. The blood test should include viral markers and chronic infection. If there is any suspicion regarding the nature of growth, a simple excision biopsy can be performed to clarify.
In short, though I cannot rule out cancer growth; but your symptoms and the progress of the 2 lymph node are very subtle and should not take your peace of mind. Get those test done.
Hope this helped. Let me know if you need clarifications.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Hello,
This is his wife. He is not being accurate with his description of the area involved and symptoms he has experienced. I will go into more detail for you with a more accurate account.
1. The lumps are located on the back of the neck mid-way from the base of the skull to shoulder area on either side of the spine about a good inch to 1.5 inches from the spine. Nearly parallel of each other.
2. They are very hard and protrude about 2 cm up, and are between 2 and 3 cm in diameter. They are immobile.
3. he has experienced fatigue, weight loss (rapid), loss of appetite, yet maintains a bloated looking abdomen. He has had nose bleeds more recently, he has had severe acid reflux for some time and vomit/coughing blood on a few occasions. He has also experienced fogginess/spaced out episodes more recently. He has had headaches that knock him out for the day and nausea. He gets infections in his gums that reoccur even when treated with antibiotics. He has soreness in his neck for sometime.
2. He told me he first noticed a lump about a year ago, and then more recently he found more. He said he also has a couple on his back.
I'm sorry he was not more honest with you, but he is not wanting to hear anything bad. He thinks if he does not see a doctor or hear good or bad from a doctor then he is fine. The Superman syndrome, I will live forever and nothing can stop me.
He is already battling Parkinson's Disease.
Thanks you for you time.
This is his wife. He is not being accurate with his description of the area involved and symptoms he has experienced. I will go into more detail for you with a more accurate account.
1. The lumps are located on the back of the neck mid-way from the base of the skull to shoulder area on either side of the spine about a good inch to 1.5 inches from the spine. Nearly parallel of each other.
2. They are very hard and protrude about 2 cm up, and are between 2 and 3 cm in diameter. They are immobile.
3. he has experienced fatigue, weight loss (rapid), loss of appetite, yet maintains a bloated looking abdomen. He has had nose bleeds more recently, he has had severe acid reflux for some time and vomit/coughing blood on a few occasions. He has also experienced fogginess/spaced out episodes more recently. He has had headaches that knock him out for the day and nausea. He gets infections in his gums that reoccur even when treated with antibiotics. He has soreness in his neck for sometime.
2. He told me he first noticed a lump about a year ago, and then more recently he found more. He said he also has a couple on his back.
I'm sorry he was not more honest with you, but he is not wanting to hear anything bad. He thinks if he does not see a doctor or hear good or bad from a doctor then he is fine. The Superman syndrome, I will live forever and nothing can stop me.
He is already battling Parkinson's Disease.
Thanks you for you time.
Brief Answer:
couple of possibilities more....
Detailed Answer:
Well, this description is much better. Perhaps you are talking about two growths on supraspinatous region. It is the upper back area above the shoulder girdle. If I am wrong, please post pictures of the area involved and the lump on this page. There is a feature to upload reports and images on this site.
Now, a lymph node swelling is not common at this area but it isn't absolutely impossible. Therefore my aforementioned reply holds good to an extent.
That being said since lymph node swelling isn't very common at this area, I have couple of more possibilities. One being a growth on nerve tissue which we call neurofibroma. It is felt as firm to hard lump. It has restricted mobility, but sometimes felt as completely immobile swelling. Second is a growth from musculoskeletal tissue.
Both these lumps are benign growths and cancerous transformation is exceedingly low. Therefore worries about cancer at this point of time is unwanted. I understand he has other significant symptoms. But I am not sure if his symptoms are related to the growths. Yet a thorough physical examination at his physician's office is necessary to understand what is the cause of those symptoms and weight loss.
With regards to these growth, in all I would say they don't seem cancerous yet. An ultrasound scan / excision biopsy may be performed to diagnose the cause.
Hope I am clear. Feel free to ask for clarifications.
Regards
couple of possibilities more....
Detailed Answer:
Well, this description is much better. Perhaps you are talking about two growths on supraspinatous region. It is the upper back area above the shoulder girdle. If I am wrong, please post pictures of the area involved and the lump on this page. There is a feature to upload reports and images on this site.
Now, a lymph node swelling is not common at this area but it isn't absolutely impossible. Therefore my aforementioned reply holds good to an extent.
That being said since lymph node swelling isn't very common at this area, I have couple of more possibilities. One being a growth on nerve tissue which we call neurofibroma. It is felt as firm to hard lump. It has restricted mobility, but sometimes felt as completely immobile swelling. Second is a growth from musculoskeletal tissue.
Both these lumps are benign growths and cancerous transformation is exceedingly low. Therefore worries about cancer at this point of time is unwanted. I understand he has other significant symptoms. But I am not sure if his symptoms are related to the growths. Yet a thorough physical examination at his physician's office is necessary to understand what is the cause of those symptoms and weight loss.
With regards to these growth, in all I would say they don't seem cancerous yet. An ultrasound scan / excision biopsy may be performed to diagnose the cause.
Hope I am clear. Feel free to ask for clarifications.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
it's actually at the base of the skull just at the hairline
Brief Answer:
Do not be worried about cancers...
Detailed Answer:
Apologies for the late reply. I was a bit busy during the weekend.
It would have been better if you had posted images. But never mind I shall continue the discussion with a virtual image in my mind.
Lymph nodes in the neck are more commonly localised to the anterior (front) aspect of the neck. Though they are also located behind the neck, they do not usually get affected as the ones in front. Nevertheless it is still the number one possible cause of these lumps.
Neurofibroma, the nerve tissue tumour is also a possibility in my list. This tumor can grow at any part of the body where nerves are found. Further it can grow in a very gradual pace. It rarely becomes cancers. I haven't seen cancerous changes in any of my patients with neurofibroma though there are evidences in literature.
So I shall safely say that I will not be worried about cancer at this point of time. Consider ultrasound scan and excision biopsy if possible. It should allay all fears about cancers.
Hope this helped. Yet, I will be glad to clarify doubts if any.
Good luck!!
Do not be worried about cancers...
Detailed Answer:
Apologies for the late reply. I was a bit busy during the weekend.
It would have been better if you had posted images. But never mind I shall continue the discussion with a virtual image in my mind.
Lymph nodes in the neck are more commonly localised to the anterior (front) aspect of the neck. Though they are also located behind the neck, they do not usually get affected as the ones in front. Nevertheless it is still the number one possible cause of these lumps.
Neurofibroma, the nerve tissue tumour is also a possibility in my list. This tumor can grow at any part of the body where nerves are found. Further it can grow in a very gradual pace. It rarely becomes cancers. I haven't seen cancerous changes in any of my patients with neurofibroma though there are evidences in literature.
So I shall safely say that I will not be worried about cancer at this point of time. Consider ultrasound scan and excision biopsy if possible. It should allay all fears about cancers.
Hope this helped. Yet, I will be glad to clarify doubts if any.
Good luck!!
Note: Consult an experienced Otolaryngologist / ENT Specialist online for further follow up on ear, nose, and throat issues - Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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