“Lymphomas may present as painless swelling in the lymph nodes of the neck and collarbone region, or the armpits or groin,” continues Dr. Abnormal Lump on the Collarbone (Clavicle) that Was Never There Before “The clavicle is a very superficial bone,” says Dr.
If you find a lump above or on your clavicle, it’s totally normal to bounce to cataclysmic conclusions. Whenever we detect anything even marginally abnormal with our bodies, the natural knee jerk attitude is to panic for the sake of our health – even if painstakingly unnecessary. The fact is, many unexplained lumps are totally harmless and not worth frenzying over.
- Sep 03, 2013 I have a small very moveable lump on my collarbone. Noticed it about 5 weeks ago. It hasnt changed size of shape. Feels smooth and round but is firm (cant be squished). It sits almost on the front of collarbone but just on the underside of it. It can be moved on top of collarbone and also from side to side. It is about 0.6cm/0.7cm.
- A lump above the collarbone can be a sign of something you're indeed right to worry about. The collarbone — or clavicle — is a long, thin bone which connects your arm to the body. Bones are smooth, so any lumps or bumps on or around them are rather easy to notice.
But in rare cases, a clavicle lump could be the sign of something more unfavorable. So whilst it’s important to remain placid and astute, airing the side of caution and understanding potential consequences is equally crucial too. Getting expert advice and examination is key, allowing you to achieve a systematic diagnosis with usable treatment options presented. If you’d like to discover more about causes and symptoms of clavicle lumps, keep reading.
What’s the Main Cause for a Lump on Clavicle?
A technical term for your collarbone, the clavicle acts as a connection between your sternum and shoulder blades. There are many reasons unexpected bony lumps can betide this section of bone, some more commonplace than others.
It’s no private secret how many accidents can happen involving the clavicle, some of which have serious repercussions. Therefore, one of the primary causes of a lump on your clavicle is impulsive injury or brute trauma resulting in breakages or fractures. If you’ve suffered a particularly nasty fall and experience collarbone pain a period later, it’s essential you visit your doctor immediately. Full breakages are pretty evident at the scene, but a fracture may be more challenging to identify particularly if pain and swelling doesn’t occur right away.
As a result of such injuries, a corresponding lump can show. Whether due to your clavicle being forcibly separated into multiple shards from a severe break or a slight misalignment during a fracture, lumps can loom from major and minor injuries. Undergoing an X-ray is key to confirm this, and a CT (computerized tomography) scan may also be requested.
Is a Hard Bony Lump on Clavicle Always From Injury?
Whilst undoubtedly the most common reason hard bony lumps on your clavicle may spring, traumatic injury isn’t the only culprit for lumps of this type. Unfortunately, cancerous tumors also retain a relatively hard, rigid structure, and can subsequently develop on the clavicle as a result of bone cancer – or as secondary tumors spreading from another primary source.
If you’re utterly certain you’ve not experienced any breed of trauma and your clavicle bony lump is definitely not because of injury, it’s crucial to accept professional examination. Whilst there’s always a shot any tumors present could be benign (non cancerous), it’s vital you receive an accurate report for treatment and prognosis scope.
Can Infections Cause Clavicle Lumps?
In short, yes they can! Whilst not quite as common as other embodiments of infection, bone infections can cause intermittent lumpy masses to develop within the clavicle area or between clavicle bones. Professionally referred to as osteomyelitis, such bone infections typically start following a surgical procedure because of injury.
If abandoned untreated, this condition can manifest into a weakening issue for the sufferer. However, there are multiple treatment regimens available, with surgery to extract infected tissue a feasible option if necessary.
What Causes a Lump Above My Clavicle?
If noticing a lump closer to the top of your clavicle or situated near the neck area, it’s unlikely to be bone-related like preceding causes we’ve delved into. Typically, whilst commonly correlated with the sides of the neck, inflamed lymph nodes can cause lumpy structures to occur lower down on the body – even stretching as far as the clavicle.
Swollen lymph nodes are predominantly a result of bacterial infections, occurring via your body’s immune system attempting to fight and defend against the infection. In order for your nodes to settle down and revert to their introductory size and shape, antibiotics are likely needed to treat the veiled infection. Then once your white blood cells have barely anything leftover to ward off, your lymphatic nodes will shrink to normal.
However, if sensing your nodes are chronically inflamed and aren’t recovering independently, it could be a sign of something more sinister like lymphoma. So, just because the primary lump site appears closest to your clavicle, this doesn’t mean your neck and throat area can be disregarded. As always, visiting your doctor for a proficient diagnosis is key.
What Are Clavicle Lump Symptoms?
As with basically any lump or bump, the specific associated symptoms solely depend on the root cause. Every category of lump is different, and will produce alternative residuals.
If your lump is a result of fracture or breakage, pain is an almost guaranteed aftereffect. You’re likely to also develop bruising and swelling around the broken scene, and even a slight sagged look to the shoulder closest to the break. Movement is likely to be strained and somewhat hampered, and regular painkillers are certain to be arbitrary.
However, if your lump is a result of a bone infection or broadened lymph nodes, other symptoms will be observed. Feverish emotions, chills and swelling are strongly likely to occur, and you may even experience frequent night sweats until all traces of infection have been eliminated.
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What Is A Lump On My Collarbone
When contemplating lumps and mounds in varying bodily ranges, the collarbone is an infrequent location that commonly springs up. However, miscellaneous lumps can occur on collarbones for a variety of reasons, some more urgent than others.
Luckily, many collarbone lumps are completely harmless and aren’t cause for concern. But it’s paramount to be watchful and judicious, and getting any form of lump checked out is essential to maintain the finest health. Disregarding size, pain or smoothness, all lumps should be investigated by a professional doctor if consistent. But if hunting to learn more about potential lumps your collarbone could develop for contentment and satisfaction, keep reading to determine relevant causes and symptoms – with comparable pictures for reference.
What Causes a Hard Lump on Collarbone?
Perhaps the most common type of lump within the collarbone area near shoulder is hardened and stiff. This singlehandedly depends on causation, as the most common culprit for a hard lump on collarbone is injury or traumatic upheaval. A fracture or neat break can often result in unexpected lumps cropping up, and can occur even in the most unimportant of breakages.
If you’ve endured an injury but aren’t pronounced you’ve broken your collarbone, other signs to watch for are excessive swelling and blackening bruising, limited movement, and even sagging of the flawed shoulder.
If suspecting collarbone injury, it’s needful to visit your doctor speedily – regardless of lump development or not. They’ll refer you for an X-ray scan to analyze probable damage, and will recommend treatment options shifting onward.
Are Hard Collarbone Lumps Always Painful?
f originating from injury, the answer is staunchly yes. Virtually any form of bone break or fracture will cause some level of pain, especially if swelling is embroiled. But if your hard lump isn’t due to a car accident or fall, it could be the sign of something foreboding – especially if not painful.
Whilst rare, cancerous tumors can develop on the collarbone as a syndrome of bone cancer or secondary tumor spread from elsewhere. If undeniable you’ve not undergone an accident and hurt your collarbone, a hard lump veritably needs to be checked to examine the likeliness of a tumor. Characterized by hardness, rigidity, and ineptitude of being moved underneath skin, it’s almost guaranteed your lump isn’t a carcinogenic tumor if squishy and soft. Instead, it’s likely a lipoma. However, ensure to visit your doctor to be 100% positive as home self-diagnosis is rarely accurate.
Why Do I Have a Soft Lump on My Collarbone?
As mentioned, lipomas are a common cause of soft lumps arising on the collarbone. Simply a collection of excess fat cells, this form of lump isn’t considered harmful and rarely entails treatment. However, if your lipoma is eminently large and exasperating, surgical removal could be a viable treatment option if proposed.
Another form of a soft lump on collarbone is swollen lymph nodes, with many completely bypassing this idea when researching. Swelling of lymphatic nodes is commonly associated with the base of neck or the right side of the neck, but they can extend as far down as the collarbone in circumstantial individuals. A common repercussion of underlying bacterial infections or viruses, distended lymph nodes are typically accompanied by rampant fever symptoms and pained tenderness when touched. Rarely hardened and easily treatable provided your doctor targets the elemental cause with medication, swollen lymph nodes are rarely concerning if guilty infection is confirmed.
Soft Painless Lump On Collarbone Bone
Causes of Painful Lump on Collarbone
Due to the sheer sum of potential collarbone lumps, it’s certain greater than one type can be painful. However, one of the most common styles of painful lumps on collarbone is infected cysts, and this possibly hard, moveable lump must be treated with utmost carefulness. Defined as fluid-filled sacs that can occur implicitly anywhere on the body, cysts are just as likely to emerge on the collarbone as anywhere else. Uninfected cysts are relatively harmless and don’t cause pain, but if infected and united with redness, swelling and leaking pus, they can be excruciating for the sufferer.
Soft Painless Lump On Collarbone Symptoms
Another form of potential collarbone cyst is a ganglion cyst. Whilst most commonly found on the hands, they can stem from the collarbone too. Visibly witnessed beneath skin, attached to joints or tendons and still represented as fluid-filled pockets of skin like general cysts, ganglion cysts are ordinarily benign and painless. However, if notably close to a nerve they can be incredibly painful and debilitating, meaning treatment is likely unavoidable.
Is Lump on Collarbone Near Throat Dangerous?
Soft Painless Lump On Collarbone Near
Whilst most likely harmless swollen lymph nodes, other collarbone-related lumps stretching further toward the neck can generate severe consequences. A relatively frequent symptom of thyroid cancer is neck swelling and lumps, especially if fast-growing with no sign of disappearing independently. So if you have a seemingly continuous, enlarged mass within your throat accompanied by other signals such as difficulty swallowing or breathing, visit your doctor purposefully. But it’s still imperative not to panic, as a distinctive throat swelling could be caused by plenty of other harmless conditions – only a professional can provide a concrete diagnosis.
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