BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuNeck lumpLump in the neckA neck lump is any lump, bump, or swelling in the neck. Considerations There are many causes of lumps in the neck. The most common lumps or swellings are enlarged lymph nodes. These can be caused by bacterial or viral infections, cancer (malignancy), or other rare causes.Enlarged lymph nodesLymph nodes are present throughout your body. They are an important part of your immune system. Lymph nodes help your body recognize and fight germ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article MalignancyThe term "malignancy" refers to the presence of cancerous cells that have the ability to spread to other sites in the body (metastasize) or to invade...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Swollen salivary glands under the jaw may be caused by infection or cancer. Lumps in the muscles of the neck are caused by injury or spasm of the neck muscles (torticollis). These lumps are often at the front of the neck. Lumps in the skin or just below the skin are often caused by cysts, such as sebaceous cysts.TorticollisTorticollis is a condition in which the neck muscles cause the head to tilt, turn or rotate to the side.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article CystsA cyst is a closed pocket or pouch of tissue. It can be filled with air, fluid, pus, or other material.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Sebaceous cystsAn epidermoid cyst is a closed sac under the skin, or a skin lump, filled with dead skin cells.Read Article Now Book Mark Article The thyroid gland may also produce swelling or one or more lumps. This can be due to thyroid disease or cancer. Most cancers of the thyroid gland grow very slowly. They are often cured with surgery, even if they have been present for several years.All neck lumps in children and adults should be checked right away by a health care provider. In children, most neck lumps are caused by infections that can be treated. Treatment should start quickly to prevent complications or the spread of infection.As adults age, the likelihood of the lump being a cancer increases. This is particularly true for people who smoke or drink a lot of alcohol. Most lumps in adults are not cancers. Causes Lumps in the neck from swollen lymph nodes may be caused by:Bacterial or viral infection Cancer Thyroid disease Allergic reactionLumps in the neck due to enlarged salivary glands may be caused by:Infection Mumps MumpsMumps is a contagious disease that leads to painful swelling of the salivary glands. The salivary glands produce saliva, a liquid that moistens food...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Salivary gland tumor Salivary gland tumorA tumor is an abnormal growth of body tissue. Tumors can be cancerous (malignant) or noncancerous (benign).Read Article Now Book Mark Article Stone in salivary duct Home Care See your provider to have the cause of the neck lump diagnosed and treated. When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your provider if you have an abnormal neck swelling or lumps in your neck. What to Expect at Your Office Visit The provider will take your medical history and do a physical exam.You may be asked questions such as: Where is the lump located? Is it a hard lump or a soft, pliable (moves slightly), bag-like (cystic) mass? Is it painless? Is the entire neck swollen? Has it been growing bigger? Over how many months? Do you have a rash or other symptoms? RashRashes involve changes in the color, feeling or texture of your skin.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Do you have difficulty breathing? Difficulty breathingBreathing difficulty may involve:Difficult breathing Uncomfortable breathingFeeling like you are not getting enough airImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article If you are diagnosed with a goiter (thyroid gland enlargement), you may need to take medicine or have surgery to remove it. You may need the following tests if the provider suspects a thyroid nodule or another abnormality in the neck: NoduleSkin nodules are solid or cystic raised bumps in the skin that are wider than 1 centimeter (cm), but less than 2 cm.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Ultrasound scan of the thyroid and neck tissues CT scan of the head or neck CT scan of the headA head computed tomography (CT) scan uses many x-rays to create pictures of the head, including the skull, brain, eye sockets, and sinuses.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Radioactive thyroid scan Thyroid scanA thyroid scan uses a radioactive iodine tracer to examine the structure and function of the thyroid gland. This test is often done together with a ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Thyroid biopsy BiopsyA biopsy is the removal of a small piece of tissue for laboratory examination.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Lymph node biopsyIf the lump is caused by a bacterial infection, you may need to take antibiotics. If the cause is a noncancerous mass or cyst, you may need surgery to remove it.Open ReferencesReferencesBell EB, Nugent A, El-Deiry MW. Differential diagnosis of neck masses. In: Flint PW, Francis HW, Haughey BH, et al, eds. Cummings Otolaryngology: Head & Neck Surgery. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 113.Matlock AG, Pfaff JA. Otolaryngology. In: Walls RM. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 58.AllVideoImagesTogLymphatic system - illustration The lymphatic system filters fluid from around cells. It is an important part of the immune system. When people refer to swollen glands in the neck, they are usually referring to swollen lymph nodes. Common areas where lymph nodes can be easily felt, especially if they are enlarged, are the groin, armpits (axilla), above the clavicle (supraclavicular), in the neck (cervical), and the back of the head just above hairline (occipital).Lymphatic systemillustrationNeck lump - illustration The most frequently seen lumps or swellings in the neck are enlarged lymph nodes. This can be caused by bacterial or viral infections, malignancy, and other rare causes.Neck lumpillustrationLymphatic system - illustration The lymphatic system filters fluid from around cells. It is an important part of the immune system. When people refer to swollen glands in the neck, they are usually referring to swollen lymph nodes. Common areas where lymph nodes can be easily felt, especially if they are enlarged, are the groin, armpits (axilla), above the clavicle (supraclavicular), in the neck (cervical), and the back of the head just above hairline (occipital).Lymphatic systemillustrationNeck lump - illustration The most frequently seen lumps or swellings in the neck are enlarged lymph nodes. This can be caused by bacterial or viral infections, malignancy, and other rare causes.Neck lumpillustrationRelated Information Swollen lymph nodes(Symptoms)Malignancy(Special Topic)Torticollis(Condition)Cyst(Symptoms)Epidermoid cyst(Condition) Review Date: 2/2/2023 Reviewed By: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Clinical Professor, Department of Family Medicine, UW Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. 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Neck lumpLump in the neckA neck lump is any lump, bump, or swelling in the neck. Considerations There are many causes of lumps in the neck. The most common lumps or swellings are enlarged lymph nodes. These can be caused by bacterial or viral infections, cancer (malignancy), or other rare causes.Enlarged lymph nodesLymph nodes are present throughout your body. They are an important part of your immune system. Lymph nodes help your body recognize and fight germ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article MalignancyThe term "malignancy" refers to the presence of cancerous cells that have the ability to spread to other sites in the body (metastasize) or to invade...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Swollen salivary glands under the jaw may be caused by infection or cancer. Lumps in the muscles of the neck are caused by injury or spasm of the neck muscles (torticollis). These lumps are often at the front of the neck. Lumps in the skin or just below the skin are often caused by cysts, such as sebaceous cysts.TorticollisTorticollis is a condition in which the neck muscles cause the head to tilt, turn or rotate to the side.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article CystsA cyst is a closed pocket or pouch of tissue. It can be filled with air, fluid, pus, or other material.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Sebaceous cystsAn epidermoid cyst is a closed sac under the skin, or a skin lump, filled with dead skin cells.Read Article Now Book Mark Article The thyroid gland may also produce swelling or one or more lumps. This can be due to thyroid disease or cancer. Most cancers of the thyroid gland grow very slowly. They are often cured with surgery, even if they have been present for several years.All neck lumps in children and adults should be checked right away by a health care provider. In children, most neck lumps are caused by infections that can be treated. Treatment should start quickly to prevent complications or the spread of infection.As adults age, the likelihood of the lump being a cancer increases. This is particularly true for people who smoke or drink a lot of alcohol. Most lumps in adults are not cancers. Causes Lumps in the neck from swollen lymph nodes may be caused by:Bacterial or viral infection Cancer Thyroid disease Allergic reactionLumps in the neck due to enlarged salivary glands may be caused by:Infection Mumps MumpsMumps is a contagious disease that leads to painful swelling of the salivary glands. The salivary glands produce saliva, a liquid that moistens food...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Salivary gland tumor Salivary gland tumorA tumor is an abnormal growth of body tissue. Tumors can be cancerous (malignant) or noncancerous (benign).Read Article Now Book Mark Article Stone in salivary duct Home Care See your provider to have the cause of the neck lump diagnosed and treated. When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your provider if you have an abnormal neck swelling or lumps in your neck. What to Expect at Your Office Visit The provider will take your medical history and do a physical exam.You may be asked questions such as: Where is the lump located? Is it a hard lump or a soft, pliable (moves slightly), bag-like (cystic) mass? Is it painless? Is the entire neck swollen? Has it been growing bigger? Over how many months? Do you have a rash or other symptoms? RashRashes involve changes in the color, feeling or texture of your skin.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Do you have difficulty breathing? Difficulty breathingBreathing difficulty may involve:Difficult breathing Uncomfortable breathingFeeling like you are not getting enough airImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article If you are diagnosed with a goiter (thyroid gland enlargement), you may need to take medicine or have surgery to remove it. You may need the following tests if the provider suspects a thyroid nodule or another abnormality in the neck: NoduleSkin nodules are solid or cystic raised bumps in the skin that are wider than 1 centimeter (cm), but less than 2 cm.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Ultrasound scan of the thyroid and neck tissues CT scan of the head or neck CT scan of the headA head computed tomography (CT) scan uses many x-rays to create pictures of the head, including the skull, brain, eye sockets, and sinuses.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Radioactive thyroid scan Thyroid scanA thyroid scan uses a radioactive iodine tracer to examine the structure and function of the thyroid gland. This test is often done together with a ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Thyroid biopsy BiopsyA biopsy is the removal of a small piece of tissue for laboratory examination.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Lymph node biopsyIf the lump is caused by a bacterial infection, you may need to take antibiotics. If the cause is a noncancerous mass or cyst, you may need surgery to remove it.Open ReferencesReferencesBell EB, Nugent A, El-Deiry MW. Differential diagnosis of neck masses. In: Flint PW, Francis HW, Haughey BH, et al, eds. Cummings Otolaryngology: Head & Neck Surgery. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 113.Matlock AG, Pfaff JA. Otolaryngology. In: Walls RM. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 58.