Lump on neck? Possible causes and when to worry

A neck mass – a lump or bump on your neck can be concerning if you don’t know the cause. Find out when you should see a doctor about a lump on your neck.

What’s the most likely cause of a neck lump?

Other causes of a neck lump

How to tell the cause of a neck lump

Should I get the lump checked by a doctor?

You’ve found a lump on your neck and you’re not sure if it’s something innocent or if you should be worried - that’s human nature.  

But the only way to free yourself from worry is to get your neck mass (a lump on your neck) checked by a doctor. Before doing so, you may find it helpful to take a closer look at the lump and consider these questions:

1. Is it soft to touch?
2. Does it come and go?
3. Does the lump in your neck move around?
4. Is it getting smaller in size?

If you can answer ‘yes’ to any of these questions, then your neck lump is less likely to be anything serious. However, you should still get it checked by a doctor. 

## What’s the most likely cause of a neck lump?

A swollen lymph node (sometimes called a lymph gland) under the chin and jawline is the most common cause of a neck lump.

Lymph nodes are naturally present in your neck - you just can’t feel them most of the time.  But if you’re fighting an infection, such as a [cold](/cold), [ear infection](/ear-infections/otitis-media), [tonsillitis](/sore-throat/tonsillitis) or [glandular fever](/viral-infections/glandular-fever), they can swell in size as your body fights the infection. 

This is normal and the swelling should go down once the infection gets better. If the swelling doesn’t go down, you should get it checked by a doctor.

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## Other causes of a neck lump

A neck lump can be caused by many other things, including: 

- a problem with your salivary gland - this may be an infection of the gland or [salivary stones](/mouth-lip-health/salivary-gland-stones)  
- a problem with your thyroid gland - this could be the swelling of the gland [(goitre)](/thyroid-disease/goitre) or a thyroid cyst
- a skin problem - this may be a [skin tag](/skin-changes/skin-tags), acne with [boils](/boils), an [abscess](/abscess) or a fluid-filled [cyst](/cysts/skin-cyst)
- a blood vessel - it’s possible for a blood vessel in the neck to become larger, causing a lump to form (aneurysm)
- abnormal development - a lump may be present at birth or develop later on

## How to tell the cause of a neck lump

### Location of the lump

The exact location of a neck lump can hold clues about its cause. For example, a lump caused by a [swollen thyroid gland](/thyroid-disease/goitre) will usually appear on the front of the neck.

A lump on the right or left side of your neck could be a swollen lymph node, which may be caused by an infection. 

### How the lump feels

How a lump feels can also say a lot about its cause. Lumps in or just below the skin may be due to a cyst - a fluid-filled lump that feels like a pea under the skin.

If the lump is hanging off the skin and looks like a wart, it may be a wart or a [skin tag](/skin-changes/skin-tags).

## Should I get the lump checked by a doctor?

If you’re not sure if you should see a doctor about a neck lump, answer the following questions: 

1. Does the lump feel hard?
2. Does the lump stay in the same place when you press it (some lumps move around)? 
3. Has the lump remained or got bigger over the course of a few weeks?
4. Have you had the lump for more than 2 weeks?

If you’ve answered ‘yes’ to any of these questions, you should get the lump checked by a doctor.

It’s even more important to see a doctor about a lump if you’ve experienced any of the following symptoms:

- losing weight without trying to
- night sweats
- difficulty breathing
- feeling tired all the time
- difficulty swallowing and/or hoarseness
- unexplained bruises
- coughing up blood

A doctor may ask about your symptoms and look at the lump.  If they’re not sure of what’s caused the lump, they may refer you for tests.
![When to see a doctor for a neck lump](//images.ctfassets.net/iqo3fk8od6t9/3OKa2m29NrkVFEfgV3U9Wg/9d728e0f4493de1cfc46dcbc0ebc73f6/doctor-making-notes.jpg)

### Could cancer cause a lump on my neck?

It’s natural to worry that a lump is a sign of cancer, but try not to worry. Remember that lumps can appear anywhere on your body - not just your neck - and usually they’re harmless. 

If you’re particularly worried about a lump on your neck or the lump hasn’t gone away after 2 weeks, always get it checked by a doctor. 

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References

Georgina Newman

Dr Lauretta Ihonor

Healthily's medical team

Article information

All of Healthily's articles undergo medical safety checks to verify that the information is medically safe. View more details in our <a href="/safety" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">safety page</a>, or read our <a href="/legal/editorial-policy-principles" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">editorial policy</a>.

A neck mass – a lump or bump on your neck – can be concerning if you don’t know the cause. Find out when you should see a doctor about a lump on your neck.