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Painful Back Lump, Swollen Lymph Node, Scalp Itchiness, No Redness, No Flaking
Hi,
Thanks for the query.
Lump in the back of the neck (occipital region) could be of various etiologies.
With this brief history it is indeed difficult to pinpoint exactly the cause of the swelling. The commonest cause of the swelling in the occipital region is lymphadenitis. The lymph nodes get enlarged whenever there is infection or inflammation in the scalp region.
Even a simple seborrheic dermatitis (dandruff) of the scalp can cause enlargement of the lymph nodes in the occipital region. Other causes of swelling in the occipital region could be lipoma or sebacious cyst.
In your history, you have mentioned that you are having an itchy scalp, which is one of the features of seorroheic dermatitis. So, the swelling can actually be a lymph node arising because of the former condition(apart from the one which you have mentioned as a lymph node).
Only after a thorough examination of the scalp and the swelling (for consistency, mobility and associated features) a diagnosis can be made.
Other investigations which can aid in the diagnosis are ultrasound and Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC) of the swelling.
Hope I have answered your query, if you have any more doubts you are welcome.
Regards
Dr. Naveen Kumar.
Thanks for the query.
Lump in the back of the neck (occipital region) could be of various etiologies.
With this brief history it is indeed difficult to pinpoint exactly the cause of the swelling. The commonest cause of the swelling in the occipital region is lymphadenitis. The lymph nodes get enlarged whenever there is infection or inflammation in the scalp region.
Even a simple seborrheic dermatitis (dandruff) of the scalp can cause enlargement of the lymph nodes in the occipital region. Other causes of swelling in the occipital region could be lipoma or sebacious cyst.
In your history, you have mentioned that you are having an itchy scalp, which is one of the features of seorroheic dermatitis. So, the swelling can actually be a lymph node arising because of the former condition(apart from the one which you have mentioned as a lymph node).
Only after a thorough examination of the scalp and the swelling (for consistency, mobility and associated features) a diagnosis can be made.
Other investigations which can aid in the diagnosis are ultrasound and Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC) of the swelling.
Hope I have answered your query, if you have any more doubts you are welcome.
Regards
Dr. Naveen Kumar.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Ashwin Bhandari
Answered by
Dr. Dr. Naveen Kumar Nanjasetty
Otolaryngologist / ENT Specialist
Practicing since :2001
Answered : 2543 Questions
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