Painless lump to the left of sternum?

[timmo28]

Hi, I have a hard, boney and painless lump on the left side of my sternum where the adjacent ribs connect. The lump's location is at the bottom left part of my sternum and is about 1 inch in diameter but it doesn't stick out much, half of the lump is located on the sternum and the other half on the adjacent rib, which I think is rib number 5, so you could say it's located over the sternocostal articulation for rib 5, although it feels like part of the lump is in the area for the ribs' 6, 7 and the false ribs articulations.

I've had this lump for about 3 years and haven't had any trauma on my rib cage. I went to my GP to check this out about 3 years ago and he had a bit of a feel of the lump and said it was just some cartilage that would go away. And since it doesn't seem to have gotten any smaller since then I'm worried about it, and also I don't like the appearence of having a lump there. I haven't found anything on the internet about cartilage lumps on the ribcage either so I'm really hoping I can get some help here about what it could be? And what I can do about it?

[Bec2013]

I means that your turning into an alien

[guest10020]

i have a small ball/ lump next to my rib every time i touch it the ball will move around and im kind of scared.! what does it mean ?

[freelili]

I also noticed a rib lump, I was a bit scared to go to the doctor but I talked myself into it yesterday.  My doctor found 2 lumps and sent me for an xray today plus some blood tests. My question is, what can they diagnose from an xray?  

I have never posted on a forum before so please excuse my title, I didnt know where to put it.  There doesnt seem to be much information on what these lumps could be.  

[Dr Vinod]

Hello!

Any lump which is growing and which presents at old age should be dealt with suspicion till you rule out tumor/cancer. Do not delay the diagnosis and follow up with a chest specialist.

I would suggest you to get an X-ray initially and then follow up with further scans (CT, MRI) and if it cannot be diagnosed then you can go for some blood tests and finally if the physician wants a biopsy then go for it.

Tell your physician to go for non invasive methods and go for a biopsy if and only there is a requirement taking into consideration her age and fear.

Take care!

[candicechn]

My 70 year old mother has a bony painless lump on her upper sternum between her breast. The lump doesnt move and is about the size of a tennis ball. It grew about 3 months ago and we think it is still growing.. My mother is scared of needles, biopsy and doctors..What do you think it is?  

[Dr Vinod]

I think that you are having a lymph node near the sternum.
It may be due to an infection or inflammation and there are many causes of swollen lymph nodes.

If the lump size is not increasing then nothing to worry.
Only way to know is you have to visit a clinician who will examine it again and do a biopsy and give the diagnosis.
Take care!