Inflammation of the lymph nodes is most often a consequence of infection entering the body. In most cases, this symptom indicates the presence of pathology of certain organs. Inflammation of the lymph nodes in the neck, a symptom of which is their noticeable enlargement, is characterized by painful sensations in the affected area. The main purpose of this reaction is to prevent the spread of infection throughout the body.
In medical practice, this inflammation is called lymphadenitis. In the absence of timely, qualified treatment, it can develop into a separate disease. Subsequently, it leads to serious complications that pose a great danger to human life.
Symptoms and signs
The size and shape of a lump on the collarbone is one of the clinical signs for a preliminary conclusion.
To make a preliminary conclusion about the origin of the formation in the clavicle area, be sure to pay attention to the features of the clinical signs:
- Size and shape - large sizes usually indicate the development of various benign neoplasms.
- Painful sensations - pain always indicates an unfavorable course of the pathological process with inflammation or tissue destruction.
- Inflammatory changes in the skin - hyperemia, in which the tissues become red and swollen. Changes usually develop against the background of infection or tissue destruction.
- Violation of the integrity of the skin in the form of a long-term non-healing ulcer is an unfavorable sign that may indicate the development of an oncological process.
- A fistulous tract is the appearance of a channel through which pus comes out, which indicates a purulent process. Usually localized in the lymph nodes of the collarbone area, swelling of the skin develops around it.
- General intoxication - increased body temperature, weakness, aches in muscles and joints, loss of appetite indicate a severe course of the inflammatory process with purulent melting of tissues. Severe weight loss in a person, even to the point of exhaustion, is often the result of the development of a malignant neoplasm.
- Metabolic disorders and the functional state of the nervous system are a consequence of the pathology of the thyroid gland, which is located near the collarbone and can lead to the appearance of a lump.
Based on clinical symptoms, the nature and origin of changes in the clavicle area can be assumed. For a reliable diagnosis, an additional objective examination is prescribed.
Atheroma
Atheroma is a cystic formation located in the skin of the sebaceous glands and occurs due to blockage of the ducts. The contents, accumulating in the bed of the duct, stretch it and form a wen.
The cause of atheroma between the neck and collarbone is a metabolic disorder, which leads to a change in the composition of the sebaceous gland secretion and its viscosity. As a result of these changes, the ducts become blocked.
A provoking factor for the development of atheroma is increased sweating, which is typical for various hormonal imbalances. Oily seborrhea and acne create a favorable background for the appearance of glandular cysts. Negative external conditions and constant trauma to the skin also contribute to the formation of atheromas.
An epithelial cyst is usually painless, but if it becomes inflamed or grows rapidly, it may become red and ulcerated. Often such a formation has a hole through which a white or yellow liquid with a specific odor is released.
Atheroma may not increase and not cause any discomfort for a long period. Sometimes, but extremely rarely, the cyst disappears on its own.
A tumor of this type can have a complicated course, which manifests itself:
- inflammation - rapid growth, redness and pain;
- suppuration with the development of phlegmon or breakthrough of the membrane with outflow of contents;
- penetration of pathological fluid into surrounding tissues during injury;
- degeneration into a malignant tumor.
Treatment of atheromas is surgical, mainly laser.
Causes of a tumor in the clavicle area
Before prescribing therapeutic treatment, the doctor must find out the origin of the lump in the area of the collarbone
. A lump, a tumor in the area of the collarbone, in most cases is a manifestation of various diseases. The most common ones include:
- lipoma;
- lymphogranulomatosis;
- atheroma;
- swollen lymph nodes;
- furuncle;
- goiter;
- Ewing's disease;
- tumor formation;
- median cyst.
The treatment of each of the pathological conditions that leads to the formation of a lump on the collarbone has fundamental differences. Before prescribing therapeutic measures, the doctor must find out the origin of the lump.
Lipoma
Lipoma is one of the most common diseases.
A benign tumor of adipose tissue is called lipoma or wen. It can have different locations on the body, including the collarbone area. The formation reaches significant sizes up to 10 cm in diameter. The tumor is benign and has several features:
- slow growth;
- absence of destruction of nearby tissues;
- mobility - the formation is not fused with the surrounding tissue and the collarbone itself;
- there is no pain or other discomfort; sometimes, with a significant size of the lipoma, the range of movements in the neck is limited.
Wen in the collarbone area forms equally often in women and men over 40 years of age. Since there are usually no subjective sensations, people with lipoma go to the doctor because of the psychological discomfort associated with the cosmetic defect. Radical treatment includes surgical removal of a benign tumor.
Lymphogranulomatosis
Lymphogranulomatosis
A malignant tumor lesion of lymphoid tissue, called lymphogranulomatosis or Hodgkin's lymphoma, leads to enlargement of the lymph nodes in the clavicle and neck area. They are small in size, not exceeding 5 cm in diameter. At the same time, itching of the skin appears, and the area of the nodes may swell. Profuse sweating develops. A person quickly loses weight over a relatively short period of time.
To obtain a favorable result and a subsequent prognosis for life, it is important to treat the pathology in a timely manner, so if a lump appears, you should immediately consult a doctor.
Atheroma
Atheroma
The term atheroma defines a pathological formation, which is a sebaceous gland cyst. It is characterized by the presence of a capsule containing sebum. Atheroma is formed as a result of blockage of the excretory ducts of the sebaceous glands of the skin against the background of a disruption in the flow of metabolic processes in the human body. In this case, a small round formation is formed, the diameter of which does not exceed 1 cm. The lump may not cause concern for a long time, but after infection, an inflammatory purulent process may develop, which requires surgical treatment. Also, when atheroma appears, additional diagnosis of other pathological conditions that lead to metabolic disorders and the formation of thick sebum, which clogs the gland ducts, is required.
Enlarged lymph nodes
Location of lymph nodes in the neck and head
Lymph nodes are peripheral organs of the immune system. They filter lymph, preventing foreign agents from entering the blood. If an infectious process or neoplasm develops in tissues and organs near the cervical, supraclavicular, subclavian lymph nodes, they enlarge with inflammation, which is called lymphadenitis. At the same time, pain appears, hyperemia and swelling of the skin on the side of the affected lymph node develops.
For effective treatment, the doctor determines the origin and localization of the infectious or oncological process. Then antibiotic therapy or surgery is prescribed. In the absence of adequate therapy, pus begins to accumulate in the lymph node, which then breaks out through the fistula. At the same time, general intoxication develops.
Furuncle or carbuncle
Infection of the sebaceous, sweat gland in combination with the hair follicle and the development of the inflammatory process is called a boil. The changes are accompanied by pain, redness and swelling of various areas of the skin. Often the pathological process develops above the collarbone on the left or right. A small, dense, painful nodule up to 1 cm in diameter is formed. As the disease progresses, pus forms inside, which breaks out and leads to relief of the person’s condition. Simultaneous inflammation of several hair follicles is characterized by a more severe course and is called a carbuncle.
The formation of boils or carbuncles is provoked by several factors, which include local hypothermia, disruption of the functional activity of the immune system, metabolism, hormonal changes, insufficient skin hygiene, and the presence of microtraumas on it. Treatment includes the use of antibiotics. When a purulent process develops, the abscess is surgically opened and drained. At the same time, therapeutic measures are prescribed to eliminate the cause of inflammation.
Goiter
Goiter is a pathology of the thyroid gland, which is localized on the front surface of the neck near the collarbone. An elastic, soft to the touch and painless seal appears in the collarbone area. Frequent localization is the inner end of the bone. Goiter is often accompanied by a violation of the functional state of the thyroid gland. This affects the condition of the heart, nervous system, and metabolism.
Treatment of goiter includes the prescription of iodine-containing drugs or hormone replacement therapy. To clarify the nature of functional disorders, a laboratory determination of the level of hormones in the blood is carried out.
Ewing's disease
A giant cell cancer that begins to grow from the bone and surrounding soft tissue. Thickening of the tumor is accompanied by early metastasis. The following clinical manifestations indicate possible tumor formation:
- the lump on the clavicle bone hurts, the pain can radiate to the chest, arm, armpit or neck;
- a hard lump forms, often in the middle of the collarbone, which is shaped like a trapezoid;
- the tumor may grow rapidly;
- body temperature rises;
- swelling of the skin in the collarbone area develops, it may darken;
- discomfort appears in the spine;
- body weight decreases sharply;
- hemoptysis and shortness of breath develop.
If a bone growth appears on the chest wall, an immediate visit to the doctor is required. The sooner adequate treatment is started, which includes surgery to remove the bone formation, the better the effect and prognosis.
Tumor formation
Removal of neuroma
Swelling between the collarbones appears due to the formation of benign or malignant tumor formations.
- Neuroma is a benign tumor with a clear border that originates from nervous tissue. It is not welded together and is capable of “rolling” during palpation. The skin over the tumor may become slightly numb, the bones and muscles may ache and pull.
- Osteochondroma is a tumor characterized by slow growth, mild pathology, absence of metastases, it can occur in men and women, and originates from bone and cartilage tissue. In this case, a lump appears on the collarbone closer to the shoulder. The left or right edge of the bone is equally often affected, less often both ends or the center. The appearance of a tumor is provoked by a fall, blow or bruise, or a fracture.
- Chondroma is a benign neoplasm, the growth of which begins from cartilaginous tissue low at the site of attachment of the collarbone to the sternum (sternal joint). The development of pathology provokes arthrosis.
- Sarcoma is a malignant tumor or cancer that can grow with destruction of nearby tissues, as well as early metastasis.
- A carotid body tumor is a benign formation, covered with a capsule, that develops from part of the carotid glomus in the area of bifurcation of the carotid artery. The formation often fills the clavicular cavity; it is not fused to the tissues and can “roll” deep in the cavity during palpation. If two glomus are affected, the size of the tumor increases, which can prevent a person from speaking or coughing.
If a painful ball appears and begins to bulge, you should consult a doctor. Using an objective examination, a specialist determines the origin of the changes. Treatment in most cases may involve surgical removal of the formation. The tumor cannot disappear on its own.
Median cyst
Median cyst
When embryonic development is disrupted, a cavity filled with fluid is formed. It is a lump on the collarbone close to the throat at the front of the neck. The formation is detected in a newborn child. If left untreated, it begins to swell, inflammation develops in the middle of the neck, and the risk of developing a purulent process with the formation of a fistula tract increases. The baby becomes restless. This indicates that he is in pain. Radical treatment includes surgical removal of the cyst, after which the tissue regeneration process proceeds normally. In girls and boys, cysts form equally often.
Is there a way to prevent branchiogenic cervical cysts?
Unfortunately, there are no preventive measures to prevent the development of this disease due to its nature of abnormal intrauterine conception. Most likely, this is a question for geneticists dealing with the problems of the etiology and pathogenesis of congenital anomalies of embryonic development. But, if a lateral cyst is nevertheless identified, then dynamic observation is recommended for children up to three years of age with periodic examinations every 3 months. Children should undergo regular medical examinations with a mandatory examination by an ENT doctor who can monitor the development of the tumor and eliminate various risks and complications.
Diagnostic and treatment methods
One of the procedures for diagnosing the disease is ultrasound.
Instrumental research methods are used to visualize and describe the formation. The most popular are X-rays, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and ultrasound. One or more diagnostic methods are selected by the attending physician based on the results of a clinical examination. To determine the functional state of various organs, a clinical analysis of blood, urine, biochemical tests, and an electrocardiogram are prescribed.
Treatment is selected after a comprehensive examination of the person. In most cases, it includes surgical removal of the formation, as well as measures aimed at improving the functional state of various organs.
Lymphogranulomatosis
Swellings near the neck can be enlarged lymph nodes and be the first symptom of lymphogranulomatosis, a malignant cancer. This is exactly the case when you need to consult a doctor immediately.
With lymphogranulomatosis, or Hodgkin's disease, the cervical lymph nodes are primarily affected. They are painless to the touch and quite mobile.
Along with local symptoms, there are a number of common characteristic signs:
- itchy skin all over the body;
- profuse sweating, especially at night;
- weight loss;
- weakness, loss of appetite;
- sudden increase in temperature with peak values up to 39°.
Clinical manifestations of Hodgkin's disease gradually increase and go through 4 stages. When pathology is detected at stages 1 and 2, low doses of radiation and chemotherapy are used; often radiotherapy alone is sufficient
Recurrent or progressive lymphogranulomatosis is treated with a bone marrow transplant to normalize its function. The patient's bone marrow is replaced with his own or a donor's; the second option is used in exceptional cases.
Lymphogranulomatosis responds well to treatment in the early stages and has a fairly high survival rate.