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What Does A Knot On The Side Of Collar Bone Indicate?

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Posted on Mon, 5 Oct 2015
Question: My son is 24 active , lifts weights, work 12 hour shifts , and working out at the gym about 4 times a week... I noticed a knot on the front left side of his collar bone bout the size of pecan. It is hard and it does not move. My son went to his doctor and his doctor did an x-ray and seen nothing therfore she precribed him with naproxen and flexral.. His doctor said if that does not help she ask that he would come back to see her.. Well , it didn't help . His doctor put my son on some type of steriods still did not help . His doctor referred him to an Ortho, which the Ortho did an x-ray as well.. Ortho, seen noting on the x-ray said the collar bone and shoulder look normarl but because of the pain he will have my son have an MRI, the pain only occurs if he turns his body a certain way other than that he is fine. His MRI is schedule for the 23rd of this month... I am just worried , my nerves are bad, and it bothers me. My son sitll works out at the gym. Do you have any idea what this knot can be?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Prof. Kunal Saha (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
Could be an enlarged lymph node or a ganglion

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic.

It i hard to comment without a clinical examination but it could be one of the two:
* A ganglion - a firm to hard mass formed due to partially torn muscle fibers that form a nodule like structure.
* An enlarged lymph node - that could occur if there is some localized infection.

In either case, the lesion would not show up on X ray (since they are formed of soft tissue and not bone) and may not respond to steroids.

Regards


Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Prof. Kunal Saha (32 minutes later)
If this is the case ( not saying it is ) Is this surgical , or medicine only ?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Prof. Kunal Saha (2 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
If my suspicion is correct, it is better to leave it alone

Detailed Answer:
If it is a ganglion, unless it is bothering too much, it is preferable to leave it alone. Medicines will not help. Surgical intervention may be done but it is likely to recur.

If it is a lymph node enlargement, it is likely to gradually regress spontaneously. Medicines are not required unless antibiotics need to be given for some localized infection. There could be other causes of a lymph node swelling but unless such swellings occur elsewhere, I would not worry.

Regards
Note: For further inquiries on surgery procedure and its risks or complications book an appointment now

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Prof. Kunal Saha

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :1954

Answered : 4467 Questions

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What Does A Knot On The Side Of Collar Bone Indicate?

Brief Answer: Could be an enlarged lymph node or a ganglion Detailed Answer: Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic. It i hard to comment without a clinical examination but it could be one of the two: * A ganglion - a firm to hard mass formed due to partially torn muscle fibers that form a nodule like structure. * An enlarged lymph node - that could occur if there is some localized infection. In either case, the lesion would not show up on X ray (since they are formed of soft tissue and not bone) and may not respond to steroids. Regards