When a person notices a tumor in his neck, he may feel anxious. The first thing that usually comes to his mind is cancer. What causes lumps in the neck?
There are many non-malignant causes that cause these lumps. For example, an infection, cyst, or benign tumor can form a lump in the neck, according to a report at Step2Health.
The main cause of mass in the neck is swollen lymph nodes, which are circular structures that form part of the immune system distributed throughout the body. And temporarily.
The site reported that enlarged lymph nodes can occur for various reasons, including:
Infections such as a common cold or sore throat are very common, especially in children.
Mononucleosis, dental abscesses and tonsillitis.
3. Lymphadenitis.
4. Systemic diseases such as HIV / AIDS and tuberculosis.
Some immune disorders can cause swelling in the neck, as a result of swollen lymph nodes, just like infections. The most prominent of these diseases is rheumatoid arthritis, a disease that causes the immune system to accidentally attack healthy tissues.
In addition, some medications can make lymph nodes larger, and a tumor may form in the neck due to a cyst (a fluid-filled gap) or a problem with the salivary gland. However, the fact that it may also be due to cancer can not be ignored. Although it may be a cancerous lymph node, it may also be a tumor from an adjacent structure that has spread or even metastatic from a distant tumor.
the doctor
In the event of a lump in your neck it is necessary to visit a doctor for medical tests and necessary tests that will diagnose the condition that you have. In addition to supplementary tests, several signs can help guide you as to the nature of these blocks.
A soft and painful tumor is usually an indication of infection, but these lumps usually disappear after a while.
Tumors can also cause other symptoms such as loss of voice (hoarseness) or difficulty swallowing. If you have a lump in your neck that does not go away and also causes any of the symptoms listed above, consult your doctor as soon as possible.
Diagnostic tests
Many tests can make a medical diagnosis. However, if the patient is young the tumor is unlikely to be the cause. These tests may not usually be necessary if there are visible signs of rot. Similarly, specialists assess the cohesion of the mass and if it is painful.
Patients are usually required to undergo a blood test, as well as chest X-rays. When there are warning signs or cancer risk factors.
More accurate tests, such as biopsy, can be performed in which part of the mass is extracted for examination. On the other hand, doctors can order imaging tests, such as computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and ultrasound is sometimes useful.