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What Causes A Lump Under The Sternum, Chest Pain And Breathing Difficulty?
Question: Hi. I have a lump under sternum. It has gotten larger in the past couple of weeks. I have pain in my chest and find it difficult to breath sometimes.
Brief Answer:
As detailed below.
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
Thanks for your query, albeit short and specific.
Read the history of lump under the sternum - larger in a couple of weeks - pain in chest and difficulty in breathing sometimes and understood your concerns.
If the lump in under the sternum, it may be an epigastric hernia. This is expansible meaning if you palpate and cough forcefully the lump will expand and have impulse on coughing and it reduces on its own or by pressure on it. It can get painful or tender if something, usually the fat gets entrapped.
Another rare reason can be an infected cyst, or a mass coming from the muscles.
The lumps in this position usually not cause any symptoms of pain in chest or difficulty in breathing. And since such symptoms are present I would advise you the following:
Clinical evaluation, examination preferably by a General Surgeon.
X-ray of the chest, EKG tests of blood, urine and stool.
High resolution ultrasound of hte lump gives a clue and a CT scan or MRI will help clarifying the diagnosis correctly and gives plan for further management related to all the symptoms that you have mentioned.
I hope this answer helps you to get an accurate and early diagnosis and a plan for proper treatment related to all your symptoms. Please feel free to ask for further relevant queries if you feel that there is a gap of communication.
As detailed below.
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
Thanks for your query, albeit short and specific.
Read the history of lump under the sternum - larger in a couple of weeks - pain in chest and difficulty in breathing sometimes and understood your concerns.
If the lump in under the sternum, it may be an epigastric hernia. This is expansible meaning if you palpate and cough forcefully the lump will expand and have impulse on coughing and it reduces on its own or by pressure on it. It can get painful or tender if something, usually the fat gets entrapped.
Another rare reason can be an infected cyst, or a mass coming from the muscles.
The lumps in this position usually not cause any symptoms of pain in chest or difficulty in breathing. And since such symptoms are present I would advise you the following:
Clinical evaluation, examination preferably by a General Surgeon.
X-ray of the chest, EKG tests of blood, urine and stool.
High resolution ultrasound of hte lump gives a clue and a CT scan or MRI will help clarifying the diagnosis correctly and gives plan for further management related to all the symptoms that you have mentioned.
I hope this answer helps you to get an accurate and early diagnosis and a plan for proper treatment related to all your symptoms. Please feel free to ask for further relevant queries if you feel that there is a gap of communication.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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