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What Causes Palpable Movable Lump Under Collar Bone?
Question: Hello, I am a 30 year old male that recently noticed a palpable moveable node under my left collarbone. The node is roughly the size of a shelled peanut and seems to increase and decrease in size periodically but never exceeds the size of a almond. I mentioned this to my GP and he didnt seem to show any interest and said it isnt anything to worry about. The only time it bothers me is if I draw attention to it or if I have been sitting or sleeping and I get up there is a pain around my collarbone shoulder area on both sides. I have been sleeping more than normal as well as have sensitive heavy tired eyes. Is this something to have checked out by another doc.
Brief Answer:
This might be an enlarged lymph node - hematologist consult is a good idea.
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Thank you for the query.
Yes, you definitely should have it checked. Movable lump under a collarbone can be (and usually is) a lymph node. If you are able to palpate it, it might be enlarged.
Lymph nodes around collarbones are very important indicators of many conditions. Any infection in the close area (like throat, tooth, bronchi) can cause it enlargement. Unfortunately more serious diseases like lymphoma, lung cancer, larynx cancer can also give enlarged lymph node in this location.
That is why I suggest you to do not leave it alone. Please consult a hematologist with this issue. Blood work and node ultrasound should be done. A biopsy of this node should be considered.
Hope this will help. Feel free to ask further questions.
Regards.
This might be an enlarged lymph node - hematologist consult is a good idea.
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Thank you for the query.
Yes, you definitely should have it checked. Movable lump under a collarbone can be (and usually is) a lymph node. If you are able to palpate it, it might be enlarged.
Lymph nodes around collarbones are very important indicators of many conditions. Any infection in the close area (like throat, tooth, bronchi) can cause it enlargement. Unfortunately more serious diseases like lymphoma, lung cancer, larynx cancer can also give enlarged lymph node in this location.
That is why I suggest you to do not leave it alone. Please consult a hematologist with this issue. Blood work and node ultrasound should be done. A biopsy of this node should be considered.
Hope this will help. Feel free to ask further questions.
Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Hello, thanks for the reply. Would the fluctuation in size be of any concern. I am able to palpate it when I shrug my shoulder and pop it out from under the collar bone. It is roughly the size of a shelled peanut. I am constantly messing with it to see if its gone down in size. I have a chest x-ray roughly 3 months ago do to some chest discomfort which the doc said was clear. The only other symptoms I have really experienced is some pain around the shoulder collarbone area on both sides when I wake up or if I have been sitting for some time. I do suffer from anxiety wonder if this plays a role in some of the physical symptoms I am having.
Brief Answer:
Size fluctuation is quite normal for lymph nodes.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Fluctuation in size is a very normal thing for lymph nodes. Lymph node is a kind of station where white blood cells (Lymphocytes) communicate, multiply and take with them what they have found in the local area (lymphocytes take killed bacteria to show other lymphocytes the enemy). Sometimes to lymph nodes cancers give metastases. Such metastatic cells do multiply so the lymph node gets enlarged. In simple words, the situation inside lymph nodes is very dynamic. And so can be the size of lymph node.
I do not tell that you have cancer. Not at all. You are very young person and any cancer at your age is rare thing. I just want you to be 100% sure that this lymph node is nothing serious.
Your symptoms (pain on both sides, chest discomfort) seems to be rather from muscles or spine and are not related with this lymph node.
Anxiety does not impact lymph nodes.
The alarming symptoms commonly present with lymphomas and cancers are night sweats, mild fever and weight loss.
So just to be 100% sure and secure, please consult hematologist.
Regards.
Size fluctuation is quite normal for lymph nodes.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Fluctuation in size is a very normal thing for lymph nodes. Lymph node is a kind of station where white blood cells (Lymphocytes) communicate, multiply and take with them what they have found in the local area (lymphocytes take killed bacteria to show other lymphocytes the enemy). Sometimes to lymph nodes cancers give metastases. Such metastatic cells do multiply so the lymph node gets enlarged. In simple words, the situation inside lymph nodes is very dynamic. And so can be the size of lymph node.
I do not tell that you have cancer. Not at all. You are very young person and any cancer at your age is rare thing. I just want you to be 100% sure that this lymph node is nothing serious.
Your symptoms (pain on both sides, chest discomfort) seems to be rather from muscles or spine and are not related with this lymph node.
Anxiety does not impact lymph nodes.
The alarming symptoms commonly present with lymphomas and cancers are night sweats, mild fever and weight loss.
So just to be 100% sure and secure, please consult hematologist.
Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Thanks for the response. I forgot to include my results from my blood work in the last post. I am in shock that my GP wouldn't recommend further testing considering the location. Example of size fluctuation is that I woke up this morning with it the size of a shelled peanut, now its smaller around the size of a black-eyed pea. Does this seem enlarged? Is it true that with lymphoma the node never decreases once enlarged? I have not experienced any drenching nights sweats, weight loss or fever (to my knowledge). This time of year my anxiety tends to get worse but I have been noticing some new symptoms such as tired / heavy eyes, pain pressure on top of head, light sensitivity, days that feel like I am just out it and not normal.
CBC Results (10/29):
Component Standard Range Your Value
White Blood Cells 4.5 - 11.0 K/UL 5.5
RBC 4.50 - 5.90 MIL/UL 5.50
Hemoglobin 13.5 - 17.5 G/DL 16.2
Hematocrit 41.0 - 53.0 % 49.0
MCV 79.3 - 94.8 UM3 89.1
MCH 26.0 - 34.0 UUG 29.5
MCHC 31.0 - 37.0 G/DL 33.1
RDW 11.5 - 14.5 % 12.3
Platelets 150 - 450 K/UL 165
MPV 7.5 - 10.7 UM3 9.6
Segs Relative 36 - 66 % 56
Lymphocytes Relative 24 - 44 % 34
Monocytes Relative 0 - 10 % 8
Eosinophils Relative 0 - 5 % 1
Basophils Relative 0 - 2 % 1
Chest X-Ray Results:
Narrative
PA and lateral chest
XR CHEST 2 VIEWS
INDICATION: STERNUM POPS
COMPARISON: 02/28/2008
FINDINGS:
The heart is unremarkable.
The mediastinal silhouette is unremarkable..
The pulmonary vascular markings are unremarkable..
No focal consolidation identified..
No pleural effusion identified. The costophrenic angles are sharp
The visualized osseous structures show no acute process.
Impression
IMPRESSION:
1. No acute cardiopulmonary abnormality.
Thanks
CBC Results (10/29):
Component Standard Range Your Value
White Blood Cells 4.5 - 11.0 K/UL 5.5
RBC 4.50 - 5.90 MIL/UL 5.50
Hemoglobin 13.5 - 17.5 G/DL 16.2
Hematocrit 41.0 - 53.0 % 49.0
MCV 79.3 - 94.8 UM3 89.1
MCH 26.0 - 34.0 UUG 29.5
MCHC 31.0 - 37.0 G/DL 33.1
RDW 11.5 - 14.5 % 12.3
Platelets 150 - 450 K/UL 165
MPV 7.5 - 10.7 UM3 9.6
Segs Relative 36 - 66 % 56
Lymphocytes Relative 24 - 44 % 34
Monocytes Relative 0 - 10 % 8
Eosinophils Relative 0 - 5 % 1
Basophils Relative 0 - 2 % 1
Chest X-Ray Results:
Narrative
PA and lateral chest
XR CHEST 2 VIEWS
INDICATION: STERNUM POPS
COMPARISON: 02/28/2008
FINDINGS:
The heart is unremarkable.
The mediastinal silhouette is unremarkable..
The pulmonary vascular markings are unremarkable..
No focal consolidation identified..
No pleural effusion identified. The costophrenic angles are sharp
The visualized osseous structures show no acute process.
Impression
IMPRESSION:
1. No acute cardiopulmonary abnormality.
Thanks
Brief Answer:
Your symptoms do not point to lymphoma, your blood work is fine.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Your results are just fine. No WBC elevation or decrease. So this makes any lymphoma rather hardly possible. This is true that with lymphoma the lymph nodes rather grow and do not get smaller. But you never know. For lymphoma (especially Hodgins lymphoma) is characteristic that the mutated cells are in very low amount. What gives lymph nodes enlargement is immune system response for few lymphma cells. In simple words such lymphoma lymph node contains 5% of bad cells and the rest (95%) are good lymphocytes which try to kill this few cells.
If they succeed, the lymph node can get smaller. But this is only hypothetical.
Lymphoma lymph nodes are getting larger and larger in multiple locations.
Mentioned by you symptoms can be rather due to some infection than any other reason. But still this lymph node should be at least checked with an ultrasound.
Regards.
Your symptoms do not point to lymphoma, your blood work is fine.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Your results are just fine. No WBC elevation or decrease. So this makes any lymphoma rather hardly possible. This is true that with lymphoma the lymph nodes rather grow and do not get smaller. But you never know. For lymphoma (especially Hodgins lymphoma) is characteristic that the mutated cells are in very low amount. What gives lymph nodes enlargement is immune system response for few lymphma cells. In simple words such lymphoma lymph node contains 5% of bad cells and the rest (95%) are good lymphocytes which try to kill this few cells.
If they succeed, the lymph node can get smaller. But this is only hypothetical.
Lymphoma lymph nodes are getting larger and larger in multiple locations.
Mentioned by you symptoms can be rather due to some infection than any other reason. But still this lymph node should be at least checked with an ultrasound.
Regards.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
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