What will the doctor do?įirst the doctor will want some more information about the lump or swelling. Others are bone tumours (sarcoma) or tumours of cartilage (chondrosarcoma). Some of the cancerous lumps have already been described above.

Benign tumours of other types of soft tissue, nerves or blood vessels.

Tumours can be non-cancerous (benign) or cancerous. You have them in various places in your body, including many in the neck. These swell up in the process of combatting infection or inflammation in your body.

The main blood vessel in your neck is your carotid artery. Your submandibular gland is under your jaw, and your sublingual glands are under your tongue. Your parotid gland is in front of your ears. There are three main salivary glands on each side of your neck. These glands release saliva when you eat, or think about food. This gland is in the middle of the lower part of your neck and helps to control your metabolism. Your skin, and the layers of tissue, fat and muscle underneath it.Lumps can come from many structures, most commonly: Lumps can arise from the outside surface of your neck, ie your skin, or from anything underneath it. Feeling out of breath or having difficulty breathing.

A change in your voice (such as a hoarse voice) for more than three weeks.You will need to see your doctor for any lump which sticks around, but if you have any of the following symptoms in addition to the lump then do so as soon as possible: The most worrying types of lumps tend to feel very hard, solid or craggy, and have gradually grown over a period of a very few weeks. If it is red or very tender, it might well be an infection and it may need antibiotics. If it goes on its own, or comes and goes, it is also less likely to be anything serious. As a very broad rule, if it is soft, it is less likely to have a worrying cause. The only way to be sure your lump isn't anything to worry about is to visit the doctor and get it all checked out. Should I be concerned about a lump in my neck?

Back of neck diagram