Neck lump
A 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 nodes
Lymph nodes are present throughout your body. They are an important part of your immune system. Lymph nodes help your body recognize and fight germ...
Malignancy
The 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...
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.
Torticollis
Torticollis is a condition in which the neck muscles cause the head to tilt, turn or rotate to the side.
Cysts
A 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 ArticleSebaceous cysts
An epidermoid cyst is a closed sac under the skin, or a skin lump, filled with dead skin cells.
Read Article Now Book Mark ArticleThe 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 reaction
Lumps in the neck due to enlarged salivary glands may be caused by:
- Infection
- Mumps
Mumps
Mumps 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 tumor
A 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?
Rash
Rashes involve changes in the color, feeling or texture of your skin.
ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article - Do you have difficulty breathing?
Difficulty breathing
Breathing difficulty may involve:Difficult breathing Uncomfortable breathingFeeling like you are not getting enough air
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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:
Nodule
Skin nodules are solid or cystic raised bumps in the skin that are wider than 1 centimeter (cm), but less than 2 cm.
- Ultrasound scan of the thyroid and neck tissues
- CT scan of the head or neck
CT scan of the head
A head computed tomography (CT) scan uses many x-rays to create pictures of the head, including the skull, brain, eye sockets, and sinuses.
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Thyroid scan
A 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
Biopsy
A biopsy is the removal of a small piece of tissue for laboratory examination.
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Lymph node biopsy
If 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.
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.
Bell 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.
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