Lump below sternum

[dgehrman]

I am a 63 year-old white male, in seemingly good health.  I exercise regularly with weights and cardio.  I am 6'2" and weigh 180 pounds.  I recently noticed what feels like a lump directly and immediately below my sternum.  There is a very slight level of pain when I touch the lump but no pain at all otherwise.  I am trying to get a doctor's appointment but my physician is booked for several months.  Do you think this symptom should cause alarm, and what are the potential causes?  Thanks you for your advice.

[Kevin Pho, MD]

Tough to say without examining you.  It would depend on how deep the lump is, as well as some other characteristics - i.e. how soft, movable, or tender it is.  

Things to consider would be a bony lesion on the sternum, or a lipoma (fatty tissue deposit) superficial to the sternum.  

Plain films, or a CT scan, should be considered for further evaluation.  If there are suspicious findings, a referral to a surgeon should be considered.  

Followup with your personal physician is essential.

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

Kevin, M.D.
Medical Weblog:
kevinmd_b

[jmisakian]

I am writing to pursue further a comment/querie made by dgehrman regarding a lump below the sternum. I seem to have the exact same issue.

To further explain, the lump seems to be the same shape of a very small lemon (2" in length) and seems somewhat soft in texture and moves when pressure is applied.  There is some mild pain when pressure is applied, but otherwise goes completely unnoticed.  I inadvertantly noticed this while applying pressure under the sternum.

Can you advise of the possibilities?

[login]

Just so u know everyone has a lump under their sternum

[Marta500]

I have lump too. It is size of a chestnut. When I did yoga, leing on my stomach and lift my upperbody, I felt pain and like something wants to come out from under the sternum. My doctor advised me, not to lie  down on my stomach!!!!This was in june.
This week I was dignosed with liver hemangioma and hepatoma.

[jajawa]

Hi dgehrman,

I have the exact same symptoms you describe - a fairly hard lump directly below my sternum, very slight or no pain.  I was just wondering if you had been to a doctor and had any info about the condition.   If you have, please email me at ***@****

FYI, I found your posting by Googling "lump below sternum."

Thanks!
Josh

[mike29a]

I wonder if you can slightly extend your response to dgehrman on 27th Sept 2004 regarding ...
"Things to consider would be a bony lesion on the sternum, or a lipoma (fatty tissue deposit) superficial to the sternum. "


I am 51 years old. I just discovered a bonelike structure which seems to extend 2" downwards from my sternum.
It appears that a bone , with a smooth rounded top,had grown from
under the sternum. Just as hard to press, not tender and
no pain whatsoever. It is very rigit and does not move.
Im not sure how long its been there.
As it is not causing any discomfort ,
Is this something I should be concerned about?
pls help..

[mike29a]

To: Forum-M.D.-KYP
(27-Sep-04)


I wonder if you can slightly extend your response to dgehrman on 27th Sept 2004 regarding ...
"Things to consider would be a bony lesion on the sternum, or a lipoma (fatty tissue deposit) superficial to the sternum. "


I am 51 years old. I just discovered a bonelike structure which seems to extend 2" downwards from my sternum.
It appears that a bone , with a smooth rounded top,had grown from
under the sternum. Just as hard to press, not tender and
no pain whatsoever. It is very rigit and does not move.
Im not sure how long its been there.
As it is not causing any discomfort ,
Is this something I should be concerned about?
pls help..

[Dixxyman]

Anatomically, the sternum is ahaped like a sword. It is in 3 parts and the 3rd part or tip is the xiphisternum and is cartilage, not bone. In some indiciduals as they age the xiphi st. becomes ossified and hardand may curl upwards. Think of your thumb curled backwards. My xiphi was cut during surgery and I have a golfball sized lump at the tip of my sternum which is the xiphisternum which has ossified and enlarged. It showed on the CT scan with calcium in it. Only caution is that you should never take anything for granted until checked by your MD.
I am an MD and was concerned until the question was answered.
Dixxyman

[gooner]

I first noticed similar symptoms to the above about 6-12 months ago a small firm non moveable lump at the base of my sternum about 1 1/2cm.

Hasnt bothered me but finally felt I should see the doctor to get it checked out.

So today I went. He examined it and suggested a bony lipoma the only concern in his diagnosis was that lipomas are usually softer and moveable.

He sent me for a chest x ray which I had today and blood tests which I will have on Friday.

The results will take about 3-4 weeks

I will come back to you all and let you know the outcome.

[lumpyone]

I have a very similar lump. I thought it was costochondritis at first because I felt the pain (a couple of months ago), but now the pain is gone, and the lump remains - I can't tell if it's soft or not, but it does move when I press on it. It doesn't hurt, but I do feel extra pressure on my internal organs now that my lungs are inflammed due to having some sort of upper respitory infection. I'm going to go to the doctors soon in order to get an official diagnoses. Just doing a little bit of internet research at this point. I'm 23 years old BTW. It's nice to know others have a similar condition. Hopefully it's nothing too serious. I'll let y'all know if what I find out at the doctors.

[lumpyone]

I have a very similar lump. I thought it was costochondritis at first because I felt the pain (a couple of months ago), but now the pain is gone, and the lump remains - I can't tell if it's soft or not, but it does move when I press on it. It doesn't hurt, but I do feel extra pressure on my internal organs now that my lungs are inflammed due to having some sort of upper respitory infection. I'm going to go to the doctors soon in order to get an official diagnoses. Just doing a little bit of internet research at this point. I'm 23 years old BTW. It's nice to know others have a similar condition. Hopefully it's nothing too serious. I'll let y'all know if what I find out at the doctors.

[goldenstatekid]

A related discussion, lump in between and below chest was started.