Lumps may appear in the body at the neck or behind the ear. In some cases, the cause of their appearance is skin problems such as acne or lipomas. In this case, this does not pose a health risk, but in other cases, these bumps can be an indication of the presence of serious tumors in the neck and ear.
What are the most common causes of these blockages?
Swelling in the neck
A lump or mass in the neck is common in adults and can occur for many reasons, according to the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery website.
A cervical mass is an abnormal mass in the neck. This block can be any size. They can be large enough to see and feel or very small.
A neck bump may be a sign of infection or indicate a serious health problem. This doesn’t necessarily mean you have cancer, but it does mean you may need additional evaluation to get an accurate diagnosis.
Causes of a mass or tumor in the neck
You may develop a lump in your neck due to a viral or bacterial infection. The cause may be an ear or sinus infection, tooth infection, sore throat, mumps, or goiter. If the neck lump is caused by an infection, it should go away completely when the infection goes away.
A non-cancerous (benign) tumor or a cancerous (malignant) tumor.
Cancerous lumps on the neck in adults are often caused by head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Other causes of neck lumps may be due to cancer, such as lymphoma, thyroid cancer, salivary gland cancer, skin cancer, or cancer that has spread elsewhere in the body.
Swelling in the back of the neck
See the previous paragraph.
Tumor behind the ear
A lump or mass behind the ear can occur for several reasons. Although most bumps are relatively benign, they can sometimes be a sign of a more serious condition. The bumps behind the ear can be hard or soft, and some may be painful to the touch, while others are painless. .
Bumps behind the ears are often caused by a cold, flu, sore throat, or respiratory infection. The infection can cause swelling and inflammation of the lymph nodes behind the ears.
In most cases, there is no need to worry about swollen lymph nodes; They will probably go away on their own. If it is caused by a bacterial infection, it can be easily treated with antibiotics. However, if the infection is more severe, the lymph nodes may become enlarged, swollen, red, and painful.
Mastoiditis is a serious infection that can cause a bump behind the ear. Mastoiditis is a bacterial infection that affects the mastoid bone behind the ear. This often happens when a middle ear infection goes untreated and spreads. Although it most often appears in young children, it can occur at any age.
Symptoms of mastoiditis
Severe pain behind the ear
Fluid coming out of the ear
Fever
headache
If mastoiditis is left untreated, it can lead to hearing loss, meningitis, blood clots, and facial nerve paralysis. If you have symptoms of mastoiditis, it is necessary to consult a doctor immediately.
Skin diseases, non-cancerous masses, and the appearance of a mass behind the ear
In addition to infections, many skin conditions can cause a bump behind the ear. Although acne is most common on the face, it can appear anywhere on the body. Pimples behind the ear can often be left alone or treated with over-the-counter creams.
Other causes include lipomas and cysts. Both growths are usually soft and painless. In some cases, the cyst may become infected and require the use of antibiotics. However, most of them disappear on their own. If you have a lipoma that’s causing you discomfort, you can have it surgically removed.
Could a bump behind the ear be cancer?
Sometimes it feels like a bump behind the ear. Most tumors behind the ear are benign because cancerous tumors are rare in this area of the body. If the tumor is hard, firm, and/or uneven in shape, it may be a sign that it is cancerous.
It is very important to see a doctor if the tumor is painful, appears suddenly, or is accompanied by other symptoms.
Swelling below the ear in the neck
See the previous paragraphs
What should you do as soon as you notice a bump appearing on your neck or behind your ear?
1- Cancer cells must be examined
Some neck bumps may be caused by nasopharyngeal cancer, which has spread to the lymph nodes in the neck. These bumps are usually painless, according to the “Love Authority” website.
Nasopharyngeal cancer may include other symptoms such as hearing loss, nasal congestion, nose or nosebleeds, blurry eyes, facial pain, numbness, and headache.
Even if you don’t have any of the above symptoms except for lumps on your neck, it’s important to make an appointment with your doctor to make sure you don’t have a serious condition. receipt.
As for the bumps that appear behind the ears, their presence may be linked to certain types of cancerous tumors, such as skin cancer. They can also be benign tumors, and malignant and benign masses are less likely to cause pain.
Its size may also increase over time or remain the same. Regardless of the size of the lump, you should see a doctor to find out how serious it is and whether it requires treatment or removal.
It should be noted that skin cancer is an abnormal growth of skin cells that usually occurs as a result of exposure to sunlight, but it can occur in areas not exposed to sunlight. There are 3 types of skin cancer depending on the type of cells the tumor comes from. Prevention and early detection of the disease if it occurs are the key to protection and increasing the chances of recovery.
Types of skin cancer are: basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma.
2- Make sure to check your lymphatic system
When there is a problem with the lymphatic system, the lymph nodes become enlarged and swollen, and this medical condition is known as lymphadenopathy.
You should know that our lymphatic system consists of lymphatic vessels, in addition to hundreds of lymph nodes that filter bacteria and some other toxins from the body by trapping and destroying them.
Lymphadenopathy can cause swollen lymph nodes in different parts of the body, including the neck, around the ears, and under the arms. It’s best to see your doctor if you notice swollen or enlarged lymph nodes, regardless of where those enlarged lymph nodes are located.
Swollen lymph nodes in the neck, under the arms, or in the groin are a common symptom of Hodgkin lymphoma, a type of cancer that affects white blood cells or lymphocytes.
Usually, this disease has other symptoms, such as night sweats, weight loss, fever, and persistent cough.
Although swollen lymph nodes can be caused by an infection in most cases, it is best not to ignore these symptoms and have your lymph nodes checked as soon as possible.
3- Ensure that the body’s systems are not harmed
Viral and bacterial infections often lead to swelling and bumps around the neck and ears. The most common causes of bumps behind the ears are mononucleosis, sore throat, chickenpox, and measles.
Some diseases can cause inflammation of the nipple process or inflammation of the mastoid section of the bone behind the ear. In fact, sore nipples can in turn lead to infection of this bone that forms the bumps behind the ear.
4- Confirm that these patterns are caused by sebaceous cysts
The reason for the appearance of bumps on the neck or behind the ears may be due to the presence of sebaceous cysts that form in damaged or blocked sebaceous glands, whose function is to produce oil that covers the skin and hair, as a result of trauma. . Such as scratches, sores, or acne. The function of the sebaceous glands may decrease, leading to the formation of cysts.
The doctor usually diagnoses these cysts using visual examinations, and in some cases he may need to perform other tests.
Therefore, the reasons that lead to the appearance of bumps on the neck or behind the ear should not be ignored, because only the doctor is able to determine what these bumps are and whether they need treatment or removal.
