lump on left back side of neck

[Concerned1909]

Hello,

I feel a lump (~.5cm - 1cm in size) on the left back side of my neck (posterior cervical) whenever I turn my head to the left. I don't feel any lump when my neck muscles are relaxed and my head is positioned straight (i.e. when not turning my head).

Is this an indicator of something serious inside my neck?

Thank you for your reply

[BenFalconer]

I have found a lump almost exactly on the hairline a week or so ago but just now I have found one maybe 1cm above the first. I'm 14 years old and I'm half worried about it, is it worth bringing up to my mum, the top one is a little itchy every now and then and there hard, I'm trying to put in as much info as I can, Please help thanks :)

[Ken_PA]

You should probably keep an eye on it, but not press on it constantly.

There are nodes near the surface, so they are not all deep.

Being not movable is not the best aspect, because lymphoma would grow into surrounding tissue and fix it in place. But these characteristics are only indications. Only a biopsy tells for sure, though a scan might give nearly-sure results, depending on what it sees.

A doctor would probably say to wait and see, and not worry. I don't think any doctor would order a biopsy. I don't think a doctor would even order a scan at this point, unless you have a strong family history of cancer. If it grows and/or gets harder (without it being pressed a lot) or gets an odd shape (like elongated), then you can worry. Not now.

Good luck.

[Concerned1909]

Hi,

Thanks for replying.

The lump is not movable; it is firm and spherical.

I am not aware of infections of my neck and head area nor do I exhibit any other symptoms. But I am inclined to think it is not a lymph node since my understanding from what I have been reading is that lymph nodes of the posterior cervical are deep in the neck (i.e.below the muscles and the veins) and swollen lymph nodes in the posterior cervical should be felt even when the muscles are relaxed. The fact that I only feel the lump when my muscles are contracted indicates the lump is only deep to skin/superficial to the muscle.

I hope my reasoning is correct but please correct me if I am in the wrong.

Thank you.

[Ken_PA]

It could be lymphoma, but statistically that is the least likely. It might alternatively be a lipoma or a cyst. So we look at various clues, such as is it moveable and how soft/firm/hard is it. What is the shape?

It's not large enough to be alarming, in that it still also could be a reactive lymph node (from infection) and not a cancerous one. Reactive nodes are far more common that cancerous ones. Have you had any infection or itching or pain on the scalp or ears or other nearby areas of the head? Any bug bites or cat scratches or been swimming?

At your age, a cancer is also on the not likely side.