Contents:
- Medical Video: When a Goiter Becomes a Pain in the Neck
- What causes a lump in the neck?
- 1. Problems with the thyroid gland
- 2. Additional skin or subcutaneous lumps
- 3. Enlarged salivary glands
- 4. Thyroglossal canal cyst
- 6. Mumps
- 7. Infection
- What if there is a lump in the child's neck?
- Lumps in the neck are often mistaken for lymph node disease, is that right?
- Lymph nodes and how the lymph system works
- Characteristics of non-Hodgkin lymph node cancer
- Characteristics of cancer of the Hodgkin lymph node
- Lymph nodes and cancer
- How do you deal with a lump in the neck?
Medical Video: When a Goiter Becomes a Pain in the Neck
Lumps in the neck are often mistaken for goiter or mumps. But apparently, there are several other health conditions that can cause a lump in the neck to swell. What are the causes of a lump in the neck on the right, left or behind? Is it dangerous? Let's look at the full review below.
What causes a lump in the neck?
There are many causes of lumps in the neck. Not only mumps or mumps can make a lump in the right neck, a lump in the left neck and even a lump in the back of the neck. There are several disease conditions that you do not realize that make a lump in the neck.
1. Problems with the thyroid gland
Thyroid gland is a regulator of the body's metabolism which is located at the front of the neck. Problems with this gland can cause solid or liquid lumps in the neck. Many people often call enlargement or lumps of the thyroid gland with the term goiter.
An enlarged thyroid gland can cause the neck nerves to become depressed, making it difficult for you to swallow or breathe. Most thyroid lumps are not cancerous lumps, but do not rule out the possibility of cancer. Because a small portion of a lump can be cancerous, discuss with your doctor to find out the exact cause.
To find out if hypothyroid conditions or hyperthyroidism are found in mumps, a further examination is needed to check the hormone levels produced by the thyroid gland. Mumps needs medical treatment, starting from taking medication to surgery. Mumps cannot disappear by itself.
In mumps, swelling of the neck is usually not painful. Other symptoms also depend on what thyroid disease is causing. Whether it's hypothyroid or hyperthyroid. In hypothyroid conditions, symptoms can include:
- Limp
- Weight gain with decreased appetite
- Can't stand cold
- Dry skin and hair loss
- Feeling sleepy continuously
- Constipation (difficulty defecating)
- Emotions are unstable and often forget
- The function of vision and hearing decreases
In conditions of hyperthyroidism, the symptoms are the opposite of hipotirod, namely:
- Weight loss
- Does not hold heat
- Anxious feeling
- Often feeling excited
- Tremor (unnoticed vibration of the limbs, usually most clearly seen on the hand)
- Hyperactive
2. Additional skin or subcutaneous lumps
Lumps on the back of the neck can also arise from skin that thickens below or above the skin tissue. Most of these lumps are not cancerous and do not cause certain symptoms. But a small portion of this lump can sometimes turn into cancer.
Signs that must be considered when a lump appears on the neck, including:
- Change in size of lump
- Change the color of the bump surface
- Bloody
- Another lump appears around the lump
- Enlarged lymph nodes
3. Enlarged salivary glands
The salivary gland is an organ in the neck that secretes saliva. This gland helps you digest food to easily enter the digestive tract.
These glands can sometimes enlarge for various reasons, including tumors, infections, or due to other underlying medical conditions. So not infrequently, enlarged salivary glands can cause lumps on the right or left neck. For further diagnosis and examination, it is better to immediately consult a doctor.
4. Thyroglossal canal cyst
A thyroglossal duct cyst is a cyst or a condition of a lump in the neck of a child that can continue to grow into adulthood. In general, this is not dangerous.
But to overcome this, doctors will usually dissect to remove the tissue and prevent the risk of complications.
6. Mumps
Mumps is an infection caused by a contagious virus. This virus causes swelling accompanied by pain in the salivary gland. Mumps can appear in the form of a lump in the right neck or a lump in the left neck.
The length of time from exposure to the virus to illness (incubation period) is around 12-24 days. This usually causes a lump in the child and can cause other complications if not handled properly.
Please also note, generally everyone can experience goiter, but this is common in children aged 2 to 12 years. So not infrequently you often find a lump in the neck of a child or teenager, and it is often diagnosed as goiter.
You can minimize the chance of contracting mumps by reducing the risk factors. For more information, please discuss a complaint with your doctor.
In simple terms, both mumps and mumps are two diseases that attack different tissues and glands. Mumps is a swelling of the salivary gland, the parotid gland, due to a viral infection. Mumps is also known as mumps. Whereas in the mumps, swelling of the neck usually feels painful and feels hot due to the inflammation process. Other symptoms include:
- Fever
- Limp
- Headache
- Ear pain that gets worse when chewing or talking
- Swelling in the angle of the jaw
Symptoms of mumps will usually disappear completely and recover within one week. Medical treatment is still needed, but only to help relieve symptoms. This is because an infection caused by a virus usually heals itself within five to seven days.
7. Infection
Lumps on the back, right or left side of the neck can develop when the body fights infections from colds, insect bites, or small wounds. More serious infections can cause the gland to enlarge and become hard, hard or soft. Examples of such infections include:
Bacterial infection
Infection strep throat, this is caused by streptococcus bacteria. Ulcers (abscesses), similar to large pimples can also appear on the neck Boils can arise when hair follicles or skin become infected. Sweat gland abscesses can form one or more lumps in the neck that will look like boils.
Viral infection
Viral infections of the skin (molluscum contagiosum camera.gif), can cause small lumps such as pearls or flesh on the neck. Measles, rubella or smallpox can also cause the neck to swell to resemble a lump
Weak immune system
AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) which develops and ends up becoming an infection HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) attacks the immune system. So that people affected by HIV / AIDS conditions, it is difficult for HIS body to fight infections and some diseases that can cause lumps in the neck.
What if there is a lump in the child's neck?
Generally, parents will think that a lump in the child's neck is goiter or mumps. Though not always a lump in the right or left neck of a child are the following two conditions.
Pediatricians usually see children with swollen glands or lumps on the back of the neck which are usually caused by a buildup under the skin of the neck. Although this can be very worrying for parents, it is important to know that most lump conditions are not always dangerous.
Many medical conditions can cause lumps in a child's neck, and the most common are lymph nodes that are closely related to infections such as the common cold or sinus infection.
While lumps in a child's neck in rare cases, can be caused by tuberculosis which can cause one or more lymph nodes in the neck to swell. Infection caused by insect bites or cat strokes can have the same effect, which is making a lump on the back neck or on the left and right side.
Parents also have to recognize the characteristics of the bumps that appear. If the appearance of a lump is caused by an infection, symptoms may include redness, tenderness, warmth to touch, and fever.
Lumps in a child's neck can also be cysts or tumors
However, not all lumps in the neck are safe. Sometimes, some children are born with cysts (fluid-filled sacs) in the neck that grow larger over time, or become rapidly growing infections.
Cysts can develop right and rapidly in the thyroid gland. This condition is usually located in front of the neck just above the collarbone. Cysts vary in size and may be soft if they are infected.
In addition, in less frequent conditions, swelling in the child's neck can be caused by a tumor. A lump in the right neck or a lump in the child's left neck can contain soft tissue growth that grows, sometimes the tissue can also be hard.
Most neck tumors in children are benign, not cancer. Common benign tumors include neurofibromas, which usually develop as a result of neurofibromatosis.
This is a rare genetic disorder that causes tumors to form in nerve tissue. Neurofibromas can appear as a single flesh mass or several small lumps in the same area.
In other rare cases, a lump in the left neck or a lump in the child's right neck can be caused by a cancerous tumor. Cancer cells that spread inside can cause lymph nodes to swell.
If your child is diagnosed with cancer, ENT doctors, oncologists and cancer specialists will provide the exact diagnostic and treatment tests they need.
Lumps in the neck are often mistaken for lymph node disease, is that right?
It could be that a lump in your neck is caused by lymph node disease, but this is not always the case. Before knowing what the relationship between lumps in the neck and lymph nodes is, it is better to know that lymph nodes are small tissue structures that resemble red beans. Lymph nodes can be as small as a pinhead or as big as an olive.
There are hundreds of lymph nodes in the body and these glands can be found alone or in collections. A large collection of lymph nodes is found in the neck, inner thighs, armpits, around the intestines, and between the lungs.
Lymph nodes have white blood cells which are immune cells that help the body fight infection. The main function of the lymph nodes is filtering out lymph fluid (which consists of fluid and residual substances from body tissues) from the closest organ or area in the body. Along with the spleen, the lymph nodes build up the lymph system.
Lymph nodes and how the lymph system works
After knowing what a lymph node is, you must understand how the lymph system works. The lymph system is an important part of the immune system, aka the body's defense system against disease. The lymph system is a network in the body that is formed from the spleen and lymph nodes.
The lymph system collects fluids, waste substances, and other things (such as viruses and bacteria) in the body's tissues, outside the bloodstream. Lymph vessels carry lymph fluid to the lymph nodes.
Once the fluid flows, the lymph nodes filter it, trapping bacteria, viruses and other foreign substances. Then, dangerous agents are destroyed by lymphocytes, which are special white blood cells. Then, the filtered liquid, salt, and protein are returned to the bloodstream.
When there are problems such as infection, injury, or cancer, lymph nodes or groups of lymph nodes can enlarge or swell because they work against malicious agents. The neck, inner thighs and armpits are areas where lymph nodes often swell.
Therefore, if you experience swelling in the areas mentioned earlier, you should see a doctor.
But keep in mind, too, that the characteristics of lymph cancer can also vary depending on the type, namely, lymph cancer called Hodgkin's lymphoma and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Both types of lymph cancer look similar, but actually they have different special characteristics.
Characteristics of non-Hodgkin lymph node cancer
Non-hodgkin lymph cancer can cause a variety of different signs and symptoms, depending on the location of the developing cancer. In some cases cancer may not cause any symptoms until the cancer develops large enough.
The common characteristics of non-Hodgkin lymph node cancers are:
- Enlarged lymph nodes in the neck, armpit, or groin, which do not feel painful
- Pain or swelling in the stomach
- Feel full quickly even though you only eat a little
- Pain or feeling depressed in the chest
- Shortness of breath or cough
- Fever
- Decreased weight loss
- Sweating at night
- Extreme fatigue
- Less red blood cells (anemia)
If you see signs of lymph cancer like the one above, especially if you feel most of the time at the same time, you should immediately check with your doctor to determine what caused it.
Characteristics of cancer of the Hodgkin lymph node
Someone who has Hodgkin lymph cancer can feel very healthy. But usually you can see the signs when Hodgkin cancer develops in the body. Therefore, watch for any of the following symptoms of Hodgkin lymph cancer:
- Enlarged lymph nodes in the neck, armpit, or groin, without feeling pain
- Fever and chills
- Continuous fatigue
- Weight loss is not clear why
- Broken eating loss
- Itchy
- Increased sensitivity to the effects of alcohol, or pain in the lymph nodes after drinking alcohol
Lymph nodes and cancer
Sometimes people can be affected lymph node cancer. There are two ways cancer can appear in lymph nodes:
- Cancer originates from the gland
- Cancer spreads to the glands from other places
If you have cancer, the doctor will examine the lymph nodes to see if the gland is affected by cancer. The usual tests to diagnose lymph node cancer are:
- Feeling all the lymph nodes (which are palpable) in the patient's body
- CT scan
- Lifting glands or biopsy of lymph nodes near cancer
How do you deal with a lump in the neck?
How to treat a lump in the neck depends on the cause. If it is caused by an infection, doctors will generally prescribe antibiotics or antiviral drugs related to the disease. As for the treatment of thyroid problems, namely hypothyroidism, will use artificial thyroid hormone therapy.
Lumps in the neck that are suspected of cancer will be handled through cancer diagnostic tests in general, such as biopsy, chemotherapy, to radiotherapy. The doctor may also recommend surgery if the lump is cancerous. This is so that cancer cells do not spread to other parts of the body.
