When unusual lumps appear in the head, many people feel worried. Many reasons can cause these lumps and each cause requires appropriate monitoring and treatment measures
Benign or malignant causes can cause head lumps and can occur at any age. Here are some types of head lumps and how to monitor them:
1. Swollen lymph nodes
Lymph nodes play a role in combating pathogens and are essential in preventing infection-related diseases. When infected, lymph nodes may swell and feel warm due to immune system activity. Nodes are scattered throughout the body, including the head, neck, behind the ears, and limbs. Most lymph node swelling is benign but may sometimes indicate serious conditions. Common causes include:
• Infections in the mouth, ears, or throat causing nodes to swell temporarily, accompanied by pain, redness, and mobility. These nodes usually shrink after the infection resolves.
• Lymphoma: The lymph nodes in the neck are huge, usually located separately, and can appear in other locations, gradually increasing in size over time and not decreasing as in inflamed lymph nodes. Patients often have other symptoms such as itching, fever...
• Tuberculous lymph nodes: Can grow in the head and neck area, with varying sizes. Sometimes these nodes burst, releasing pus-like material..
• Cancer: In some cases, swollen lymph nodes can be a sign of cancer in the head and neck area. The most common is Thyroid cancer. According to records, most patients with thyroid cancer will have lymph nodes that increase in size over time, especially lymph nodes behind the ear. In the early stages, these lymph nodes can be mobile, but in later stages, they become more firmly attached to the ear, painful to press, and very hard.
Lymph nodes participate in the immune process, so when there is an infection in the head and neck area, swollen lymph nodes are completely normal. However, when lymph nodes are swollen for a long time, usually more than 1 month, accompanied by poor mobility or rapid enlargement, it is an abnormal manifestation. It is necessary to examine and find the causes of the disease that causes prolonged swollen lymph nodes.
2. Dermoid cyst
A dermoid cyst, also known as a sebaceous cyst, is a benign tumor that often appears just under the skin of the head such as the forehead, eyebrow arch, behind the ear, nape of the neck, etc. This is the cause of lumps on the back of the head, especially in young children, causing many parents to worry. Dermoid cysts are small, well-defined, and may have a pore-like opening that secretes fluid or sebum. When infected, they can swell, turn red, and cause systemic symptoms like fever. Treatment usually involves surgical removal since the cysts do not resolve on their own.
3. Lipoma
Lipoma result from the excessive growth of fat cells beneath the skin. This is a benign tumor in the causes of tumors behind the head. It often appears alone, located just under the skin, has a smooth surface, sometimes you can feel many uneven concave and convex lobes, the density is usually soft, has good elasticity, the boundaries are quite clear, and it often progresses slowly.
Lipoma is a benign tumor in the head, but if it grows too large, affecting aesthetics and compressing surrounding tissue, treatment to remove the fatty tissue is needed.
4. Hemangioma
Hemangioma is due to the abnormal proliferation of blood vessels that can be located in the skin, under the skin, or in the muscles in the head area or it can be located in other locations on the body. Hemangiomas often have unclear boundaries, and soft density, found in young patients or from birth, the disease often progresses in stages with rapid proliferation and also slow proliferation. In some cases, hemangiomas can regress spontaneously, or they proliferate, affecting surrounding organs. Therefore, 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 tumors of nerve tissue origin in the body, which can appear in the head and face. Neurofibromatosis often affects aesthetics more than health, currently, there is no radical treatment for neurofibromatosis but is often treated by surgery when it affects the aesthetics and life functions of people.
6. Fibroids
Subcutaneous fibroids are also a cause of lumps on the back of the neck or lumps in the head area. Fibroids are often related to genetic factors, often appear alone, under the skin, are hemispherical, have a wide base, and smooth surface, are usually firm and quite elastic, have clear boundaries, and the disease progresses slowly. In cases where fibroids affect surrounding organs or are unsightly, they can be removed by surgery.
7. Salivary gland tumor
Tumors located in the salivary glands including the sublingual, submandibular, or parotid glands are also a condition caused by excessive or abnormal proliferation of the salivary glands. Salivary gland tumors are often dense and elastic if cystic or solid and hard if mass. The boundaries are often unclear and poorly mobile. When salivary gland tumors appear, it is often necessary to determine whether they are benign or malignant and from there have appropriate treatment measures. Treatment is usually by surgery to remove the tumor or gland, possibly combined with chemotherapy and radiotherapy if the tumor is malignant.
8. Malignant tumors
In addition to benign tumors in the head and face, there are also many causes of lumps on the back of the head due to malignant causes. Some malignant causes of lumps in the head include:
• Scalp cancer: Scalp cancer is an uncommon condition that can be related to factors such as hair dye use, frequent exposure to ultraviolet rays, genetics... Scalp cancer causes rashes on the scalp, itchy and uncomfortable feeling, increasing hair loss... tumors can progress rapidly to 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.
• Sarcoma: Sarcoma is a type of cancer that originates from mesenchymal cells. Therefore, it can occur in any part of the body including muscles and bones... the head and face can experience rhabdomyosarcoma, osteosarcoma, soft tissue sarcoma. Depending on the location of the tumor on the head and neck, it causes different symptoms such as abnormal mass, and pain, and if it is near the eye area, it affects vision...
• Metastatic cancer: All cancers in distant organs can metastasize to the head and neck area. When metastasis occurs in the head and neck area, abnormal lymph nodes often appear.
Cancer is a dangerous disease whose cause is currently unclear. If detected early, treatment is more effective. Therefore, when there are prolonged abnormal symptoms, you should proactively seek early examination for timely diagnosis and treatment.
In general, lumps in the head or lumps behind the head are usually benign. However, you should not be subjective, especially in cases where the lump is accompanied by lymph nodes that appear for a long time. You need to monitor and examine early to find the cause of the disease.
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