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Suggest Treatment For A Growing Bump Under Biceps

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Posted on Thu, 23 Jun 2016
Question: I'm concerned about a growing bump under my bicep. I noticed it about 2 years ago, and I guess about 1 year ago it doubled in size. I would estimate it is now about the size of a quarter. It was only recently I decided to try and look at it and see what was going on. I bent my elbow and looked in the mirror and what I saw was basically a round blue bump and then maybe 2 or 3 skinny veins leading into or away from this bump. I think it was a round vein or a round blue bump. Anyway, it does cause me some issues... it feels tender sometimes... and the bone sometimes feels sore. I never really thought anything of it, but, I recently spoke to a client who is a doctor and he said to get checked out ASAP but did not offer any other information. Since I have no health insurance and the ER is like $6000 an hour I was hoping that someone could lead me in the right direction. Who do I see first? What's the best way to investigate this? Are there ways to rule out cancer? Are there ways to identify it as something inparticular? I'm trying to get educated quickly.
doctor
Answered by Dr. V. N. S. Parinam (59 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Need information about bump

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Is the skin pinchable over the bump?
When you tighten the biceps muscle by flexing do you see the bump raised up?
Is the bump firm or hard or soft?
Is the bump movable or fixed to the underlying base?

Let me know this information.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. V. N. S. Parinam (1 hour later)
Yes, I am able to grab a small pinch before I come in contact with the bump and most likely just skin itself in the pinch.

The bump is found under the bicep in the fatty, flabby area of my arm.

I can only measure that the bump when I bend my arm behind my head and tighten up the muscle. It is about the size of a small marble. It doesn't move anywhere in the arm and is fixed.

I think the bump is soft.. I mean there is no real hard mass for me to attach my fingers to when I try to determine it's pliability.

When stretching my arm and examining it closer in the mirror. I see a distinct blue/green color and a small bump. There are 2 or 3 small veins winding either in or out of this bump.

doctor
Answered by Dr. V. N. S. Parinam (8 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Lipoma

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

I think what you have is a Lipoma, a fat accumulation and they are pretty benign and does not require attention more than once a year that too to check the size. The other possibility but far is Fibroma.
It needs a surgeon's hands to differentitate between the two. You just need some counseling plus education on this.
Both of them do not progress to cancer. I definitely feel you should not be stressed out.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. V. N. S. Parinam (28 minutes later)
Great, thank you Dr. Suma. I appreciate the advice, and I will still get it checked out, but for now I just wanted to ease my concerns. :)

One follow up questions.

So fatty deposits can look blue and round under the skin? This is how the bump looks when I pull the skin taught for a clearer look.

Just wanted to run that by you once more.


Thanks again!

I just looked at a bunch of Lipoma pictures and whether the bump was big or small the bump was still noticeable on the persons skin...... looking rather distended. My bump isn't like that. It's not porturding out of the arm in any way. I guess it's hiding and the only time you can tell it's there is when you rub the arm or stretch it.


Just trying to provide more helpful facts.
doctor
Answered by Dr. V. N. S. Parinam (23 hours later)
Brief Answer:
I still feel lipoma likely

Detailed Answer:
With the extra description I still feel that the bump most likely is lipoma. It can turn any color. It appears only on stretch if it is small.
The rarer propositions are fibroma, neuroma.
Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
Answered by
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Dr. V. N. S. Parinam

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2008

Answered : 1727 Questions

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Suggest Treatment For A Growing Bump Under Biceps

Brief Answer: Need information about bump Detailed Answer: Hi, Is the skin pinchable over the bump? When you tighten the biceps muscle by flexing do you see the bump raised up? Is the bump firm or hard or soft? Is the bump movable or fixed to the underlying base? Let me know this information.