Alternate Names: Lump in the neck

Considerations: There are many causes of lumps in the neck. The most frequently seen lumps or swellings are enlarged lymph nodes, which can be caused by bacterial or viral infections, malignancy, and other rare causes.

Enlargement of the submandibular salivary glands (under the jaw) may result from infection or malignancy. Lumps in the muscles of the neck, almost always in the front of the neck and involving the sternocleidomastoid muscle, result from injury or torticollis. Lumps in the skin or just below the skin are often caused by cysts such as sebaceous cysts.

The thyroid gland may also produce a lump, multiple lumps, or swelling in the neck as a result of thyroid disease or malignancy. Most cancers of the thyroid gland are extremely slow growing and often curable by surgery even if they have been present for several years.

Common Causes: CERVICAL (NECK) LYMPH NODE ENLARGEMENT

• bacterial
  • strep throat
  • other types of bacterial pharyngitis (sore throat from a bacterial infection)
  • cat scratch disease
  • tuberculosis
• viral
  • infectious mononucleosis
  • HIV disease (AIDS)
  • rubella (German measles)
  • viral pharyngitis
  • herpes infections
• malignant
  • Hodgkin’s disease
  • non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
  • leukemia
  • metastatic oral lesions (mouth cancer)
  • other malignancy
• thyroid
  • Grave’s disease
  • goiter
  • carcinoma
• other
  • allergic reaction to a drug (medication)
  • food allergies
  • other allergic reactions

• infection
• mumps
• stone in salivary duct
• salivary gland tumor

Home Care: Consult your health care provider for treatment of the cause of the neck lump.

Call If:

• there is prolonged and abnormal neck swelling or the presence of lumps.

What To Expect: The medical history will be obtained and a physical examination performed.

Medical history questions documenting your neck lump in detail may include:

• type
  • Is it a firm lump?
  • Is it a relatively soft, pliable bag-like (cystic) mass?
  • Is it a painless bag-like (cystic) mass?
  • Is the entire neck swollen?
• location/distribution
  • Is it in the front part of the neck?
  • Is the lump at the base of the neck?
• time pattern
  • Has it been increasing in size?
    • Over how many months?
• other
  • What other symptoms are also present?
  • Is there a rash?
  • Is there difficulty breathing?