Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
My 24 Year Old Has A Mass Growing On The
Question: My 24 year old has a mass growing on the side of his neck. It is visible about the size of a grape. He has been experiencing weight loss, not sure if it's related. My family has a history of youth cancer. In fact, my 16 year-old nephew is being treated with chemo right now. Do you have an idea of what that mass might be?
Brief Answer:
I would consider lymphoma
Detailed Answer:
Hello, I'm Dr. Branch, thanks for using Ask a Doctor. A mass on the side of the neck would most commonly be due to an enlarged lymph node, which can swell and increase in size due to many causes, most commonly due to infection. In this case there should be other signs of infection, such as a wound or rash, or upper respiratory infection, and the swollen lymph node would decrease in size back to normal after the infection is cleared.
However, if there are no signs of infection, and the mass is growing, and especially with weight loss, I would want to make sure this is not a sign of a blood cancer such as lymphoma. Other signs of this would be fevers and night sweats, but sometimes it does not have any symptoms other than an enlarging mass. I would recommend having this examined by a doctor, and if there is still concern, a biopsy may be necessary.
I just saw the picture, and it is a little hard to tell without feeling it, but it looks a little like the muscle in the neck. But if it definitely different than the other side, and it is growing, I would get it checked out like I said.
I hope that helps, please let me know if you have any questions about any of that, and I would be glad to discuss it with you further.
I would consider lymphoma
Detailed Answer:
Hello, I'm Dr. Branch, thanks for using Ask a Doctor. A mass on the side of the neck would most commonly be due to an enlarged lymph node, which can swell and increase in size due to many causes, most commonly due to infection. In this case there should be other signs of infection, such as a wound or rash, or upper respiratory infection, and the swollen lymph node would decrease in size back to normal after the infection is cleared.
However, if there are no signs of infection, and the mass is growing, and especially with weight loss, I would want to make sure this is not a sign of a blood cancer such as lymphoma. Other signs of this would be fevers and night sweats, but sometimes it does not have any symptoms other than an enlarging mass. I would recommend having this examined by a doctor, and if there is still concern, a biopsy may be necessary.
I just saw the picture, and it is a little hard to tell without feeling it, but it looks a little like the muscle in the neck. But if it definitely different than the other side, and it is growing, I would get it checked out like I said.
I hope that helps, please let me know if you have any questions about any of that, and I would be glad to discuss it with you further.
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Nagamani Ng
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
