Monitor head lumps

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When abnormal masses appear in the head area, many people feel anxious. These tumors can be caused by many causes and for each cause, it is necessary to have appropriate monitoring and treatment measures.

Head lumps can have benign or malignant causes and can occur at any age. Here are some types and ways to monitor head lumps:

1. Swollen lymph nodes

Lymph nodes are one of the factors that contribute to the resistance to pathogens. The lymph nodes play an important role in the prevention of infections-related diseases, when infected with pathogens, the lymph nodes also appear swollen and hot due to the activity of the immune system. Lymph nodes are scattered throughout the body including the head, neck, behind the ears, legs, arms... Most of the lymph nodes are a benign condition but sometimes a warning for dangerous diseases. The causes of swollen lymph nodes in the head include:
Due to infection in the mouth, nose and throat... lymph nodes due to inflammation often swell in a short time, accompanied by pain, heat, redness, mobility and most will ease after the inflammation disappears. Inflammatory lymph node swelling can be seen in the neck, under the jaw, behind the ear... Lymphoma: The lymph nodes in the neck are very large, often located separately and can be floating in other locations, getting bigger over time. rather than decrease as in inflammatory nodes. Patients are often accompanied by other symptoms such as itching, fever... Tuberculosis lymph nodes: May grow in the head and neck region, irregularly large and small. Sometimes these lymph nodes burst, causing a persistent pustular leak. Cancer: In some cases, swollen lymph nodes can be a warning sign of cancer in the head and neck area. The most common is thyroid cancer. As noted, most patients with thyroid cancer, the lymph nodes will increase in size over time, especially the lymph nodes behind the ear. In the early stages, this lymph node may be mobile, but in later stages, it becomes more and more attached to the ear, painful and very hard when pressed. Lymph nodes are involved in the immune process, so when there is an infection in the head and neck area, lymph node swelling is very normal. But when lymph nodes are floating for a long time, usually more than 1 month, accompanied by poor mobility or rapid enlargement, it is an abnormal manifestation. Need to be examined and find the cause of the disease causing the persistent swelling of the lymph nodes.

2. Encapsulation

Dermoid cyst, also known as a cyst, is a benign tumor, usually appearing just below the skin of the head such as the forehead, eyebrows, behind the ears, the nape of the neck... This is the cause of the lump on the back of the head, Especially in young children, many parents worry. The nature of the dermoid cyst is usually small, well-defined, on the surface there may be a blackhead-like fistula with fluid or sebum secreted through the fistula. When an infection occurs, the mass is enlarged, red, painful, and the patient may have systemic symptoms such as fever. The dermoid cyst, when discovered, needs to be treated, as it will not go away on its own, which often requires surgical removal of the cyst.

3. Fat tumor

Lipomas appear due to the excessive proliferation of subcutaneous fat cells. This is a benign tumor in the causes of a raised tumor on the back of the head, it usually appears alone, located just below the skin, the surface is smooth, sometimes palpable, many irregular convex and concave lobes, the density is usually soft, good elasticity, fairly well demarcated, usually slow progression.
Lipoma is a benign tumor of the head, but if it grows too large, affecting aesthetics and pressing on surrounding tissue, it is necessary to conduct treatment to remove fat tissue.

4. Vascular tumor

A hemangioma is an abnormal growth of a blood vessel that can be located within the skin, under the skin or in a muscle in the head area, or it can be located elsewhere on the body. Hemangiomas are often borderline unknown, soft density, common in young patients, often from birth, the disease often progresses in stages with a rapid proliferative phase and also a proliferative phase. slow. Hemangiomas in some cases can regress on their own or in some cases re-proliferate, affecting surrounding organs. Therefore, the treatment depends on the progression and risk of complications of the disease.

5. Neurofibromatosis

Neurofibromatosis is a very rare genetic disorder that causes multiple masses or small lumps of nerve tissue origin in the body, including the head and face. Neurofibromatosis often affects aesthetics rather than health. Currently, there is no method to completely treat neurofibromatosis, but it is often treated with surgery when it affects aesthetics and function. human life.

6. Fibroids

Subcutaneous fibroids are also a cause of lumps on the back of the neck or lumps in the head. Fibroids are often related to genetic factors, often appear singly, are located under the skin, have hemispherical shape, broad legs, smooth surface, density is usually firm and quite elastic, well-defined boundaries, slow progression of disease. . In cases where fibroids affect surrounding organs or are unsightly, they can be removed by surgery.

7. Salivary gland tumor

Tumor located in the salivary glands including the sublingual, submandibular or parotid salivary glands is also a condition caused by excessive or abnormal proliferation of the salivary glands. Salivary gland tumors are usually dense and elastic if cystic or solid and hard if mass. Boundaries are often not very clear, mobility is poor. When a salivary gland tumor appears, it is often necessary to determine whether it is benign or malignant and from there to have appropriate treatment. Treatment is usually surgery to remove the tumor or remove the gland, which can be combined with chemotherapy or radiation therapy if the tumor is malignant.

8. Malignant tumors

In addition to benign tumors of the head and face, there are also many causes of lumps on the back of the head that are due to malignant causes. Some malignant causes of head lumps include:
Scalp cancer : Scalp cancer is an uncommon condition that can be related to factors such as hair dye use, frequent exposure With ultraviolet rays, genetics... Scalp cancer causes papules on the scalp, uncomfortable itching sensations, more and more hair loss... the tumors can progress quickly and invade the scalp. and the most dangerous is brain metastasis. When abnormal lumps appear on the scalp, it is necessary to examine and find the cause of the disease, to have the right treatment measures. Sarcoma: Sarcoma is a form of cancer that arises from the mesenchymal cells. Therefore, it can be encountered in any part including muscles, bones ... the head and face area can experience rhabdomyosarcoma, skeletal sarcoma, soft tissue sarcoma. Depending on the location appearing on the head and neck area, it causes different manifestations such as abnormal mass, pain, if close to the eye area, it affects vision... Metastatic cancer: All cancers In distant organs, it can metastasize to the head and neck region. When metastases to the head and neck region often appear abnormal lymph nodes. Cancer is a dangerous disease for which the cause is currently unknown. If detected early, treatment is more effective. Therefore, when there are abnormal symptoms for a long time, it is advisable to proactively visit the doctor as soon as possible for timely diagnosis and treatment.
In general, lumps on the head or lumps on the back of the head are mostly benign. But also should not be subjective, especially in cases where the tumor is accompanied by lymph nodes appearing for a long time, it is necessary to monitor and examine early to find the cause of the disease.
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