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What Causes Hard Lump Below Sternum?
Question: I have a lump below my sternum. It is hard, stationary, and isn't what I would consider "tender" as in, it doesn't hurt when I press it, though if I apply pressure to it, then afterwards, it may be a bit sore. I have been experiencing chest pressure. It is roughly an inch and a half long, and roughly 3/4 of an inch wide. It feels rounded over the top and is easily felt if I run my hand along that area of my chest. I went to a doctor about it on Friday of last week, and he thought I may have simply injured or strained my xiphoid process and to wait a couple weeks. My chest pressure got worse and I went to see another doctor (the office I go to has several doctors, so if you call for a same day appointment, you get who is available). He was less sure that it was not some kind of tumor. He said he couldn't rule out cancer without some tests, so he scheduled me for a CT scan. They have been fighting with my insurance to get the CT approved, and they had to get an X-Ray first. Which I did today, but I can't see the doctor about them again for a couple of days. I am very anxious about this, and I really want to know what it is. If there is a way to attach images here, and I don't know if there is, I can attack the X-Ray results. I've looked at them, but I can't even see the area in them, which, I assume, is why we needed the CT in the first place. Thanks for your help.
Brief Answer:
Your chest x-ray is just fine.
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Thank you for the query.
A lump which can be palpated for sure is not localized inside the chest. Please note that chest is limited by ribs, muscles and few layers of membrane. It is impossible to palpate any lump inside the chest. So making an X-ray is just pointless. This test give general information about lungs condition, possible air or fluid inside the chest. It can also diagnose large tumors of lungs. But it does not tell anything about the lump which you can easily palpate. Your x-ray is fine. And no need to worry.
Can you please make a picture of this lump and attach it?
Lumps which can be palpated are usually benign skin lesions. It can be a lipoma or sebaceous cyst. Lipoma is usually soft and painless. Sebaceus cyst usually gives a tiny hole on the surface of the skin. It can be painful.
I do not think that CT is what you need. Soft tissues ultrasound would be just enough to determine the type of this lump. Both lipoma and sebaceous cyst do not turn into a cancer. Both can be removed with small incision and local anesthesia and tested by a pathologist.
Hope this will help. Feel free to ask further questions.
Regards.
Your chest x-ray is just fine.
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Thank you for the query.
A lump which can be palpated for sure is not localized inside the chest. Please note that chest is limited by ribs, muscles and few layers of membrane. It is impossible to palpate any lump inside the chest. So making an X-ray is just pointless. This test give general information about lungs condition, possible air or fluid inside the chest. It can also diagnose large tumors of lungs. But it does not tell anything about the lump which you can easily palpate. Your x-ray is fine. And no need to worry.
Can you please make a picture of this lump and attach it?
Lumps which can be palpated are usually benign skin lesions. It can be a lipoma or sebaceous cyst. Lipoma is usually soft and painless. Sebaceus cyst usually gives a tiny hole on the surface of the skin. It can be painful.
I do not think that CT is what you need. Soft tissues ultrasound would be just enough to determine the type of this lump. Both lipoma and sebaceous cyst do not turn into a cancer. Both can be removed with small incision and local anesthesia and tested by a pathologist.
Hope this will help. Feel free to ask further questions.
Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
The lump isn't really visible. It's just feelable. Like, if I press down on the skin around the lump, you could see it, but I can't get a clear picture that way (I just tried). I know that my doctor tried to order an ultrasound, but couldn't get one at the hospital or something, so he opted for trying to order a CT scan, instead. The lump is positioned directly below my sternum. I attached the best picture I got. It's between my thumb and forefinger in that picture.
The lump, for the record, is hard and unmovable. It feels like bone to me. It's just that it feels more prominent than that area ever has before.
The lump, for the record, is hard and unmovable. It feels like bone to me. It's just that it feels more prominent than that area ever has before.
Brief Answer:
This lump can not be anything serious.
Detailed Answer:
In this location, so superficial there is no way it can be anything malignant. It can be a part of xiphoid processus, soft tissues lump. At worst, it can be a hernia. But not a cancer for sure.
CT is a test which gives some dosage of radiation. So it should not be overused. Ultrasound is much safer and quicker. It is worth to consider it instead of CT.
Regards.
This lump can not be anything serious.
Detailed Answer:
In this location, so superficial there is no way it can be anything malignant. It can be a part of xiphoid processus, soft tissues lump. At worst, it can be a hernia. But not a cancer for sure.
CT is a test which gives some dosage of radiation. So it should not be overused. Ultrasound is much safer and quicker. It is worth to consider it instead of CT.
Regards.
Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
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