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Having A Painless Knot On The Back Of The Neck. Is It Dangerous?

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Posted on Tue, 26 Jun 2012
Question: What does it mean when you have a knot on the back of your neck? I have had it for years but I noticed it is a little larger. It does not hurt and it shrinks as I turn my head in a different direction.
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Answered by Dr. Rakesh Madhyastha (21 minutes later)
Hello

Thanks for the query

If you are having a knot on the back of your neck which is soft in nature and slips under your finger then it is most probably a lipoma. Which nothing but fat cells aggregated together. If the knot you are having is hard in consistency then it is most likely to be a fibroma, which is nothing but fibrous tissue aggregated together. All of these above are pain less and non worrisome.

It is present in between the fibres of the muscle which is why it shrinks when you turn your head.

To know the exact content of the knot you will have to get a fine needle aspiration cytology done, which is a simple procedure of inserting a small needle and aspirating cells from the site and examined under microscope. This is done by your PCP.

Please watch out for these and report to PCP for the above procedure:
1. Rapid increase in size
2. Pus draining from it
3. Pain while turning your head

I hope I have answered your query, if you have no further ones please accept my answer.

I wish you good health

Regards
Note: Hope the answers resolves your concerns, however for further guidance of skin related queries consult our Dermatologist.Click here to book a consultation

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Rakesh Madhyastha

Nephrologist

Practicing since :2009

Answered : 4364 Questions

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Having A Painless Knot On The Back Of The Neck. Is It Dangerous?

Hello

Thanks for the query

If you are having a knot on the back of your neck which is soft in nature and slips under your finger then it is most probably a lipoma. Which nothing but fat cells aggregated together. If the knot you are having is hard in consistency then it is most likely to be a fibroma, which is nothing but fibrous tissue aggregated together. All of these above are pain less and non worrisome.

It is present in between the fibres of the muscle which is why it shrinks when you turn your head.

To know the exact content of the knot you will have to get a fine needle aspiration cytology done, which is a simple procedure of inserting a small needle and aspirating cells from the site and examined under microscope. This is done by your PCP.

Please watch out for these and report to PCP for the above procedure:
1. Rapid increase in size
2. Pus draining from it
3. Pain while turning your head

I hope I have answered your query, if you have no further ones please accept my answer.

I wish you good health

Regards