The neck houses with thyroid, larynx, trachea as well as esophagus significant organs of the human being, which play a major role in vital functions such as breathing or communication. Therefore, a sudden bump on the neck should not be disregarded. While neck swelling disappears on its own in many cases, medical treatment is essential for certain causes.
What is a bump on the neck?
Because several different organs are located in the neck area, some of which perform vital functions, the cause of bumps on the neck should be determined by a doctor. A bump on the neck is a swelling that can occur in different regions of the neck. Depending on the cause, the bump can vary in characteristics such as size, location and consistency. While some bumps are barely noticeable and sessile, others exhibit tremendous size and hardness, as well as ease of displacement. The speed of their growth and their course of disease also depend on the reason for their development and thus cannot be stated exactly. Likewise, neck swellings are accompanied by different symptoms. Some bumps cause pain to the affected person or hinder his breathing, vocal or swallowing functions. In addition, a bump on the neck is usually easy to recognize externally because of its prominence.
Causes
A lump on the neck can result from a variety of different factors. However, there is often an inflammation of the lymph node. A distinction is made between nonspecific and specific lymph node inflammation. While non-specific inflammations are caused by bacterial or viral infections of the head area, specific lymph node inflammations have a specific cause of the disease. These can be diseases such as tuberculosis, syphilis, AIDS or Boeck’s disease, among others. In other cases, a lump on the neck is also caused by a neck cyst or fistula, which can be very painful in the inflamed stage. Cysts represent special tissue cavities that are filled with fluid. The bumps are located in the form of a so-called median neck cyst usually above the larynx or as a lateral neck cyst on the side of the neck in the angle of the jaw. In addition, in the case of inflammation, they can cause severely reddened skin. Cervical fistulas, in turn, represent minimal openings of the skin from which secretions permanently leak. In the presence of an isolated accumulation of pus, the swelling of the neck is again due to an abscess. Another reason for the development of a neck bump can be an occlusion of the large neck vein, medically called jugular vein thrombosis. In this case, a blood clot, usually caused by medical measures, clogs both skin veins, as a result of which they become inflamed. Acute jugular vein thrombosis is recognizable by a soft and painful bulging of the neck, often accompanied by fever. In contrast, a chronic occlusion of the great jugular vein manifests itself in a hard and usually painless bulge on the neck. Often, an enlargement or nodule of the thyroid gland also favors the development of a neck swelling. These can develop as a result of iodine deficiency, specific medications, autoimmune and cancer diseases, or inflammation of the thyroid gland. Diseased salivary glands are also possible causes of bumps on the neck. Most often, these develop bacterially or virally due to diseases such as mumps. In the absence of pain and slowed growth, swelling of the neck can, in rare cases, hide a malignant cancer.
Diseases with this symptom
- Lymphadenitis
- Sarcoidosis
- Cervical fistula
- Abscesses
- Jugular vein thrombosis
- Mumps
Complications
As a rule, bumps on the neck are not directly related to the development of complications. However, in certain cases, the swellings may indicate the development of metastases in the neck region. Patients are at a high health risk in this case, as it is then a malignant cancer. Intensive therapy of the tumor can in turn cause symptoms such as hair loss, pain sensations, sluggishness and weight loss. In addition, the patient’s general sense of well-being is considerably reduced, thus favoring the development of mental illnesses.Other possible complications include discomfort with swallowing, breathing, or speaking.
When should you see a doctor?
Depending on the extent and background of the bump on the neck, it may need to be cleared by a doctor. This is especially true if the swelling cannot be explained by simple conditions such as pharyngitis. A lump on the neck that is associated with severe pain or persists for weeks generally requires a detailed clarification. In this case, a serious tumor disease could be the cause. A specialist in ear, nose and throat medicine is the best person to contact in the event of a neck bump. For simple complaints, a general practitioner can also provide initial relief.
Diagnosis
In the context of diagnosing a bump on the neck, the first priority is to clarify the cause finding. For this purpose, a detailed anamnesis is first carried out on the previous course of the disease in the patient, in which the time of origin and possible concomitant symptoms are the focus of the questioning. During the subsequent physical examination, the physician examines the swelling in more detail. The bump is classified according to characteristics such as “hard” or “soft”, “painful” or “painless”, “fixed” or “loose” and the cause is thus narrowed down. A subsequent ultrasound examination can provide further facts on the background of the swelling. For example, cysts, lymph nodes or abscesses can be detected with the help of this so-called sonography. However, other methods such as magnetic resonance imaging or computer tomography are usually necessary to diagnose thyroid diseases. In addition, blood tests can also provide results on possible infections as the cause of the neck bump.
Treatment and therapy
Depending on the diagnosed cause, the form of therapy for a bump on the neck differs. For example, if the present neck swelling is caused by a nonspecific inflammation of the lymph nodes, treatment is usually refrained from. This is because after overcoming the causative infection, the lump usually recedes on its own. In rare cases, however, special drugs are prescribed to treat the infection. The same applies to specific lymph node inflammations, which require other medications depending on their cause. Also occurring jugular vein thromboses as well as salivary gland inflammations are generally treated with medication. However, if inflammations of the salivary glands occur repeatedly, surgical removal of these is often indispensable. Cysts, abscesses or fistulas underlying neck swelling also require surgery. In addition, if there are indications of serious diseases such as cancer or unexplained enlargement of the lymph nodes, the lymph nodes are surgically removed for extensive examination in the laboratory. This can finally confirm a cherished suspicion and treat the disease. If a lump on the neck develops as a result of an enlargement of the thyroid gland, its treatment differs depending on the individual extent and the reason for the swelling. In addition to medicinal or surgical measures, radioiodine therapy may also be performed.
Outlook and prognosis
The chances of healing a bump on the neck depend on the particular cause of the swelling. In most cases, however, a benign change can be assumed with a positive course of the disease. In particular, bumps caused by infections and inflammations usually always regress as a result of treating the cause. Cysts and tumors are also benign and can be successfully removed. If, on the other hand, a swelling is due to a malignant tumor or cancer, the prognosis may be worse. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial here, so at the first sign of a bump on the neck as well as pain, a doctor should be consulted immediately.
Prevention
Some measures exist to specifically prevent the formation of a bump on the neck. Mainly, this involves the prevention of diseases that can cause swelling of the neck. Therefore, one’s own body should always be observed and possible indications of a disease should be noticed and examined at an early stage. Swelling caused by infections, for example, can be largely prevented by the typical preventive measures of a cold.Sufficient warm clothing and a balanced diet rich in vitamins are recommended in this context. A healthy diet also counteracts the development of hyperthyroidism.
What you can do yourself
When a bump appears on the neck, those affected can already take initial remedial action on their own by implementing certain measures to alleviate pain and possible accompanying symptoms. This applies in particular to harmless neck swellings. Probably the simplest remedy for pharyngitis underlying the bump is drinking various teas such as chamomile or peppermint tea. The tea reduces the inflammation and pain. This home remedy is especially effective when the vapors of the tea are inhaled under a towel. Furthermore, gargling the tea is useful to decisively extend the exposure time in the throat. Cooling compresses around the neck, in turn, help with enlarged lymph nodes as the cause of the bump. Cold curd, lemon or vinegar compresses are particularly suitable for this purpose. Also poultices with angelica reduce an occurring swelling and support the healing process considerably. The ointment necessary for this can be purchased in a conventional pharmacy and applied to a cotton cloth wrapped around the affected region of the neck. For optimal effect, the application should be repeated up to three times a day. In other cases, however, warm wraps are used, for example in the form of a hot water bottle. Cooling or warming compresses and poultices can also be useful for bumps caused by salivary gland inflammation. Furthermore, sufferers of inflammation of the salivary glands should pay attention to an appropriate diet. A predominantly soft diet and adequate drinking are recommended. Moreover, extensive hygiene of the oral cavity can promote healing. An additional intake of salivary stimulants such as chewing gum, sweets, sour juices or lemons is also useful to clean the salivary glands. In addition, homeopathic remedies exist for self-treatment of swelling of the throat and its causes. Those affected with salivary gland inflammation are advised to take Phytolacca D12, while throat bumps caused by swollen lymph nodes or tonsils are treated with Mercurius solubilis D12. Exact selection and dosage of a remedy is possible via consultation with an experienced homeopath. Finally, Schüßler salts are attributed a healing effect on swollen lymph nodes. In particular, number 4 Kalium chloratum and number 9 Natrium phosphoricum are recommended. In the case of extreme salivation, on the other hand, an addition of number 8 Natrium chloratum is useful. A detailed consultation with an experienced physician or therapist is recommended in order to provide the patient with the best possible treatment for his or her sore throat.
