Your questions about lumps answered by Mr Amit Kumar
I have a shoulder lump, what could it be?
Shoulder lumps are not uncommon. They can occur on the upper arm over the shoulder joint, in the armpit (axilla), over the outer end of the collarbone (acromioclavicular joint, ACJ) or over the inner end of the collarbone where it joins the breastbone (sternoclavicular joint, SCJ). The most common lumps around the shoulder region are lipomas. A lipoma is a benign, fatty tumour that can occur anywhere on the body. Other causes of lumps or swellings around the shoulder region can be ganglions (cystic swellings from degenerate joints such as the shoulder joint, ACJ or SCJ), nerve sheath tumours (benign tumours that grow from the lining of nerves), and, rarely, sarcomas tumours (malignant tumours from soft tissue or bone). Lumps or swellings in the armpit (axilla) could be due to cysts or enlarged lymph nodes.
What are the features of a lump that I should be worried about?
Any lump which is increasing in size, painful and deep to the soft tissues may be cause for concern. Harder lumps might also be more concerning than softer, compressible ones. The size of a lump matters, and any lump bigger than 5cm (golf ball size) should be investigated.
Can lumps be investigated and removed?
Most lumps can be investigated and assessed by a simple ultrasound. Occasionally, further investigations such as X-rays, MRI or CT scans may take place to get a clearer picture of what the lump is. Some lumps require a biopsy to determine what they are, while other small lumps can be excised whole during surgery and sent to the laboratory for analysis. Not all lumps or swelling require removal but your surgeon will be able to discuss the treatment options with you. Very rarely the swelling will be directly arising from bone, thus investigation is key.
How would lumps on the ACJ and SCJ be managed?
Swellings around the ACJ or SCJ are usually due to joint degeneration, although occasionally they can be due to infection. The treatment of a swelling over the acromioclavicular joint or the sternoclavicular joint would be to treat the underlying cause, which most of the time would cause the swelling to go away.
If you have a lump that you’re concerned about please book in to see us via the contact details below
www.manchesterlumpsclinic.com / E: info@manchesterlumpsclinic.com / T: 07585 064963
