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What Causes Hard Lump On Back Of Neck Area?
Question: I am a 66 year old man, a lot of exercise, and don't eat meat or dairy. I have had a lump on the back of my neck, hard but no greater than 1 cm in diameter XXXXXXX I went to doctor who ordered an ultrasound and now they want to do a contrast XXXXXXX MRI. I saw ultra sound as they were performing it and the dark mass sticks out above muscle fibers, very round, like a little dark head. Did not see the root but it is either in the muscle fibers or under. Location is right behind my neck, just a 2-3 cms below the skull. I have had no other symptoms but am concerned. Might be cancer? Why don't they just go right in and do biopsy, since it's located just below the skin? They want me to wait several weeks to do this MRI,which concerns me further. Also, I must have had the mass for several months already. I feel good otherwise, no trouble swallowing, no pain, breathe fine, can move my neck normally and can only tell I have this mass when I move my hand over the lump. Your honest opinion?
Brief Answer:
Most probably a subcutaneous cyst.
Detailed Answer:
Hi, I have gone through your question and understand your concerns.
My honest opinion: most probably it is an Epidermal cyst, this supported by dark and round apparence on ultrasound and by the fact that the mass it's not increasing in size.
A very low chance that it may be a cancer still exists.
MRI is needed to confirm the correct diagnosis and to have exact relationships of the mass with other tissues and blood vessels, before taking any surgical decision.
MRI is harmless, it uses magnetic field to achieve images, so don't worry about any damage it may cause.
The fact that the Doctor did not rush to have a biopsy or surgical excision, is in favor to a noncancerous mass.
Hope this answers your question. If you have additional questions or follow up questions then please do not hesitate in writing to us. I will be happy to answer your questions.
Most probably a subcutaneous cyst.
Detailed Answer:
Hi, I have gone through your question and understand your concerns.
My honest opinion: most probably it is an Epidermal cyst, this supported by dark and round apparence on ultrasound and by the fact that the mass it's not increasing in size.
A very low chance that it may be a cancer still exists.
MRI is needed to confirm the correct diagnosis and to have exact relationships of the mass with other tissues and blood vessels, before taking any surgical decision.
MRI is harmless, it uses magnetic field to achieve images, so don't worry about any damage it may cause.
The fact that the Doctor did not rush to have a biopsy or surgical excision, is in favor to a noncancerous mass.
Hope this answers your question. If you have additional questions or follow up questions then please do not hesitate in writing to us. I will be happy to answer your questions.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
Thank you, Dr. Spaho, for your honest response. Wish I had access to the regular system as quickly. I do have a follow-up question. When you say probability is a 'subcutaneous cyst', I thought something described in this way would be attached to the skin. As my original comment indicates, I could clearly see the little dark head arising internally from between the muscle fibers, the top of its round head just BELOW the skin. I had thought that 'sub-cutaneous' means or implies below and attached to the skin. This little growth certainly does not seem attached to the skin. I know YOU have no access to the ultrasound but it is still classified as 'subcutaneous'? If so, what would bring such a growth? Might it just spontaneously shrink? Is it from a gland, though it is in the back of my neck?
Thank you.
-MXXXXXX
Thank you.
-MXXXXXX
Brief Answer:
By subcutaneous I mean under the skin.
Detailed Answer:
Hi and thanks for asking back XXXXXXX
By subcutaneous I mean under the skin, not necessarily attached to it.
It may be related to underskin glands, or may be related to muscle coverings, fat, lymph nodes, etc.
If you say that the mass was between muscle fibers, I believe you, the origin and attachment are showed by ultrasound.
If it is a cyst that may shrink spontaneously, can grow further or stays stable, this will be clear after correct diagnosis.
Best regards and wishing you good health.
By subcutaneous I mean under the skin.
Detailed Answer:
Hi and thanks for asking back XXXXXXX
By subcutaneous I mean under the skin, not necessarily attached to it.
It may be related to underskin glands, or may be related to muscle coverings, fat, lymph nodes, etc.
If you say that the mass was between muscle fibers, I believe you, the origin and attachment are showed by ultrasound.
If it is a cyst that may shrink spontaneously, can grow further or stays stable, this will be clear after correct diagnosis.
Best regards and wishing you good health.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
Thanks for your time, Dr. Spaho. You further clarified things for me.
Have a good evening.
-XXXXX
Have a good evening.
-XXXXX
Brief Answer:
Thank you for the kind words.
Detailed Answer:
Thank you. Keep staying healthy.
Thank you for the kind words.
Detailed Answer:
Thank you. Keep staying healthy.
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Neel Kudchadkar
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