What can a lump in the body be?
A lump is a change that can be felt or sometimes seen. It can be located in the skin, subcutaneous fat, a muscle, the breast, the testicle, the thyroid gland, a lymph node or deeper in the body.
Common benign causes are lipomas and cysts in the bodyInfection can cause a tender abscess, and lymph nodes can become enlarged as the immune system reacts.
A tumor means a tissue growth and can be benign or malignant. Read more about what a tumor is and the difference between benign and malignant tumor.
Common causes depending on where the lump is located
A lump under the skin is often a lipoma, a sebaceous cyst or an inflamed hair follicle. On the neck, reactive lymph nodes are common in cases of infection. In the breast, both cysts and other changes can occur.
A lump in the groin could be a lymph node, hernia or skin lesion. A lump in the testicle should be assessed urgently, even if it does not hurt. Abdominal lumps are difficult to assess on your own and require a medical examination.
The location determines which specialist and examination is appropriate, so a general examination is rarely the most effective route.
When should a lump be examined?
Contact your healthcare provider if the lump is new and does not go away, grows, feels hard or is stuck. The same applies if the skin over the lump changes, if it starts to bleed or if it returns after being drained.
Assessment is especially important for lumps in the breast or testicle, glands above the collarbone, or lumps that are combined with unexplained weight loss, night sweats, prolonged fever, or pronounced fatigue.
Seek medical attention more quickly if the lump is red, hot, and very painful with a fever, if the swelling is growing rapidly, or if it affects breathing and swallowing.
Do not wait to seek care if a lump grows, feels hard or fixed, is in the breast or testicle, or is combined with clear general symptoms.
How is a lump examined?
The healthcare provider assesses the size, consistency, mobility, tenderness, skin, and nearby lymph nodes. Medical history and time course help determine the likely cause.
Superficial lumps are often examined with ultrasound. Breast lumps may require mammography and ultrasound. Skin changes are assessed visually and sometimes with dermatoscopy.
Fine needle aspiration, core needle biopsy, or surgical biopsy may be needed. A tissue sample can determine cell type in a way that imaging cannot always.
When is CT or MRI used for a lump?
CT and MRI are used when the nodule is deep, when the relationship to surrounding structures needs to be mapped, or when a superficial examination does not provide sufficient information.
MRI is particularly good for many soft tissues and can describe size, tissue characteristics and extent. CT is often faster and may be better for some organs, lungs and skeletal issues.
Neither method can always determine whether a change is benign or malignant. Tissue samples and a comprehensive medical evaluation may still be needed.
What should you avoid?
Do not squeeze or puncture an unclear lump yourself. This can cause infection, bleeding, and make the assessment more difficult.
Don't just assume that the lump is painful. Many harmless lumps can be tender, and more serious changes can be painless.
Don't wait for a broad screening if a specific lump needs targeted assessment. Local examination and sampling often provide faster and clearer answers.
Why different nodules follow different investigation paths
A breast lump is assessed using an established combination of clinical examination, mammography or ultrasound and, if necessary, tissue samples. A testicular lump is usually investigated with clinical examination and ultrasound and should not wait for a general screening.
A skin nodule can sometimes be assessed directly by appearance and dermatoscopy, while a deep soft tissue nodule may require MRI to map the relationship to muscles, vessels and nerves. A nodule in the abdomen may instead require ultrasound or CT.
If a change is to be sampled, planning is important. In the case of certain deep or suspicious tumors, the biopsy should be performed by the same organization that is also responsible for any further treatment, so that the sampling route does not complicate surgery.
After a benign diagnosis, follow-up may still be needed if the lump continues to grow or causes discomfort. A previous response applies to the change that was examined at that time; clear change over time should be reassessed.