More rarely, your neck lump can be a sign of an allergic reaction or a salivary duct stone.
At SFENTA, we have found that the vast majority of neck masses and lumps are not due to malignancy or another serious condition – they are enlarged lymph nodes. When you are sick or fighting an infection, these nodes swell to protect your body and attack harmful cells.
Upon finding a lump or mass, many people immediately fear cancer. Although it is possible for a neck lump to be cancerous, fortunately, most are benign.
With that said, as adults age the chances of a lump being cancerous increases. Your risk further increases with a history of prolonged tobacco and alcohol use, HPV infection and other lifestyle choices.
Cancers that can show up as a lump in the neck include:
Head and neck cancer
Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
Hodgkin’s lymphoma
Leukemia
Lung cancer
Skin cancer
Throat cancer
Breast cancer
After asking about your symptoms and lifestyle, your SFENTA™ doctor will carefully examine your head, neck, ears and throat looking for related symptoms. Depending on the findings, the following tests may be ordered:
A neck mass or lump has many causes and requires prompt evaluation by an ear, nose and throat doctor. Contact SFENTA™ today to schedule an appointment.
Copyright © 2021 South Florida ENT Associates, P.A. All rights reserved.