HealthCareMagic is now Ask A Doctor - 24x7 | https://www.askadoctor24x7.com

Get your health question answered instantly from our pool of 18000+ doctors from over 80 specialties
159 Doctors Online

By proceeding, I accept the Terms and Conditions

Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

HCM Blog Instant Access to Doctors
HCM BlogQuestions Answered
HCM Blog Satisfaction

Spells Of Dizziness And Headaches With A Big Lump At The Base Of The Skull

Hi! My son is 13 and has had a few dizziness spells and Headaches since November, i noticed today when i put my hand on his neck that he has a big lump of some sort at the base of his skull where it meets his neck. I dont know if maybe it could be a bone or mass. Please could you help.

Thanks
Louise UK
Wed, 6 Jan 2016
Report Abuse
Neurologist, Surgical 's  Response
Hello. Thanks for asking from HCM.


I can understand your concern. This lump at the junction of neck and head could be
: Normal bony protrusion. Normally our occiput is little protruded and round. You can think of it if it is bony hard, immobile, lump is continuous with rest skull bone and skin is freely mobile over it.

It is a normal finding. No need to do anything.

: Actual Swelling. It could be due to bony swelling or some cyst. Bony swellings like post traumatic, calcified hematoma, osteoma. Cyst like sebaceous cyst, dermoid cyst.

These swellings will be felt separately from skull bone, sharp margins. Bony swellings feel hard, immobile. Cystic swellings are firm, mobile.

You can correlate your findings and reach unto some conclusion. In case of actual swelling, consult doctor. Tissue sample or biopsy will diagnose the swelling. Further management will be decided after it.

For headache and dizziness spell, you can give him painkiller like Diclofenac sodium after proper prescription. Ask him to take proper sleep. Get his vision checked up to rule out possibility of glasses.

Thanks. Hope it will help you. If still in doubt, consult doctor.

Take care.
I find this answer helpful
Neurologist, Surgical Dr. Ishu Bishnoi's  Response
Hello. Thanks for asking from HCM.


I can understand your concern. This lump at the junction of head and neck is most probably occipital protuberance. It is a normal bony protrusion, forms due to skull moulding and present in every person. Its prominence varies from person to person. It can be confirmed by confirming these features like bony hard protrusion, immobile, skin is free over it, margins are continuous with skull bone.

Rare chances are that it could be due to other swellings like osteoma/dermoid cyst/sebaceous cyst. These swellings present as discrete swelling, separate from skull bone, skin may be mobile over it, usually painless. If your findings resemble to above features, you should consult doctor.

Treatment of swelling usually requires surgical excision if it is more than 1.5 cm.

Hope it will help you. Take care. Thanks.
I find this answer helpful
Disclaimer: These answers are for your information only and not intended to replace your relationship with your treating physician.
This is a short, free answer. For a more detailed, immediate answer, try our premium service [Sample answer]
Share on
 

Related questions you may be interested in


Loading Online Doctors....
Spells Of Dizziness And Headaches With A Big Lump At The Base Of The Skull

Hello. Thanks for asking from HCM. I can understand your concern. This lump at the junction of neck and head could be : Normal bony protrusion. Normally our occiput is little protruded and round. You can think of it if it is bony hard, immobile, lump is continuous with rest skull bone and skin is freely mobile over it. It is a normal finding. No need to do anything. : Actual Swelling. It could be due to bony swelling or some cyst. Bony swellings like post traumatic, calcified hematoma, osteoma. Cyst like sebaceous cyst, dermoid cyst. These swellings will be felt separately from skull bone, sharp margins. Bony swellings feel hard, immobile. Cystic swellings are firm, mobile. You can correlate your findings and reach unto some conclusion. In case of actual swelling, consult doctor. Tissue sample or biopsy will diagnose the swelling. Further management will be decided after it. For headache and dizziness spell, you can give him painkiller like Diclofenac sodium after proper prescription. Ask him to take proper sleep. Get his vision checked up to rule out possibility of glasses. Thanks. Hope it will help you. If still in doubt, consult doctor. Take care.