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Suggest Treatment For Lump On The Left Clavicle
Question: Hello, I have had a soft lump over my left clavicle for several years. It goes up and down in size. If I have a cold virus or some other type of inflammation going on (general upper body inflammation is common for me), it will increase in size, then will reduce but never go away completely. I am going to General Physician this afternoon to have her look at it again as I have had a cold virus for 11 days and it swelled considerably though still feels soft and fluid. It is not painful except if it gets large (over 1 1/2 inch high) the area can ache. The doctor has dismissed it in the past as some type of general muscle swelling due to neck or shoulder misalignment or strain. She said there is not a lymph node in the area where the lump is (not sure that is true, it sits where the shoulder should dip above the clavicle. I have no dip on left side). I feel that the strain/muscular cause has been ruled out. I believe it is some type of fluid accumulation, most likely lymph. Also with this cold virus I am feeling some restriction in the thyroid area and have choked taking medicine twice because of it and I feel it is causing extra coughing. I have moderate Sjogren's Syndrome diagnosed in 2010. I use self/home care only for the symptoms which are mainly eye dryness and ear/nose/throats dryness. What should I request doctor do today to ensure this is not a problem with my lymphatic system? I realize it is worse with the virus and she may give me antibiotics to see if swelling goes down. But I highly doubt antibiotics will clear this lump completely. Without the lump and swelling in thyroid, my virus symptoms would not qualify for antibiotics, although I am still coughing 11 days into it, I don't feel like I have bronchitis or other secondary infection, just a bad virus. She has tested my thyroid before but will likely check it again. Should I ask to see an ENT if lump is still there after virus clears? I have an HMO so my GP will be the gatekeeper to further investigation.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Brief Answer:
it is very likely that it's not dangerous- some tests are suggested though
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thank you for asking at HCM
I carefully read your question and understand your concern.
There are different reasons why a lump in that area can happen. Very likely because your doctor is not concerned it really is a benign lump and nothing to worry but I am explaining some possible causes and examinaitions.
One of the causes is if it is related to skin like dermoid cyst which are fat glands of the skin that loose the conection with the outer part of the skin and start to gather the fat withing themselves and might grow when it is totally closed or inflamed and go down when inflamation goes down.
Another reason for soft lump there is lipoma- this is just fat under skin that is not well organised and "spread", it is very common and not dangerous at all. Generally it does not grow and get smaller, it might stay stable or grow.
Another reason is a lymphnode. This can happen due to infections most of the times and rarely due to immune diseases (like Sjogren that you are having) or cancer. In cancer generally the lymphnodes are not soft but hard and tend to grow and go up and down.
The best way to know what it is is having an ultrasound of the area. I would recommend you to have a neck ultrasound with thyroid check also and the area where the lump is. The ultrasound will tell us what is inside the lump; if it is fluid or a solid mass, a cyst, a lipoma or a lymphnode and if it is a lymphnode it can tell one due to infection from one to cancer generally.
A more sensitive test but more expensive and that probably is not the one I would do now is MRI of the area. If the ultrasound does not give clear understanding of the lump the doctor might decide on MRI.
The last and most specific test (but not always used) is removing the lump and sendig it for biopsy. This is not what I would do at the moment but is sometimes the way we evaluate masses that we can not have a good understanding of by other tests.
I would also recommend you to have some common examinations like breast check and mamograme and tests like: CBC, ERS, TSH, HIV, Toxoplasma, CMV test to rule out some infections that might cause lymphnodes.
Hope this is helpful and answers to your question
Kind Regards
Dr Antoneta Zotaj
it is very likely that it's not dangerous- some tests are suggested though
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thank you for asking at HCM
I carefully read your question and understand your concern.
There are different reasons why a lump in that area can happen. Very likely because your doctor is not concerned it really is a benign lump and nothing to worry but I am explaining some possible causes and examinaitions.
One of the causes is if it is related to skin like dermoid cyst which are fat glands of the skin that loose the conection with the outer part of the skin and start to gather the fat withing themselves and might grow when it is totally closed or inflamed and go down when inflamation goes down.
Another reason for soft lump there is lipoma- this is just fat under skin that is not well organised and "spread", it is very common and not dangerous at all. Generally it does not grow and get smaller, it might stay stable or grow.
Another reason is a lymphnode. This can happen due to infections most of the times and rarely due to immune diseases (like Sjogren that you are having) or cancer. In cancer generally the lymphnodes are not soft but hard and tend to grow and go up and down.
The best way to know what it is is having an ultrasound of the area. I would recommend you to have a neck ultrasound with thyroid check also and the area where the lump is. The ultrasound will tell us what is inside the lump; if it is fluid or a solid mass, a cyst, a lipoma or a lymphnode and if it is a lymphnode it can tell one due to infection from one to cancer generally.
A more sensitive test but more expensive and that probably is not the one I would do now is MRI of the area. If the ultrasound does not give clear understanding of the lump the doctor might decide on MRI.
The last and most specific test (but not always used) is removing the lump and sendig it for biopsy. This is not what I would do at the moment but is sometimes the way we evaluate masses that we can not have a good understanding of by other tests.
I would also recommend you to have some common examinations like breast check and mamograme and tests like: CBC, ERS, TSH, HIV, Toxoplasma, CMV test to rule out some infections that might cause lymphnodes.
Hope this is helpful and answers to your question
Kind Regards
Dr Antoneta Zotaj
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
Very much appreciated. Thank you.
Brief Answer:
You're welcome,
Detailed Answer:
You're most welcome
Regards
You're welcome,
Detailed Answer:
You're most welcome
Regards
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
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