Swellings in the neck region

The neck contains many vital structures, such as blood vessels, nerves, glands and lymph nodes. These structures can sometimes become swollen and present with a lump.

Neck lumps or swellings may signal an underlying health issue. Having any neck lump evaluated by a doctor to rule out potentially serious conditions is crucial. Neck lumps can be a cause for concern because of the close proximity of vital structures to one another. You should seek medical attention should you discover one.

There are multiple potential causes of lumps/ swellings in the neck. Below are some of the more common causes:

• Lymph Nodes – May be enlarged because of acute infections, like upper respiratory tract infections, skin infections, ear infections
• Thyroid Nodules – The thyroid gland can sometimes develop solid or fluid-filled lumps. These lumps may also lead to problems when they grow larger and compress on other structures in the neck, causing swallowing and breathing difficulties.
• Skin and Subcutaneous Lumps – Growths in the neck that arise from the skin or just below the skin.
• Salivary Gland Enlargement – These glands can sometimes become enlarged for different reasons that include tumours, infection or secondary to an underlying medical condition.
• Thyroglossal Cysts/Branchial Cysts – These developmental lumps, present from birth, may not make themselves known until later in life when they enlarge. It’s crucial to address these cysts surgically to avoid potential complications.

A full range of diagnostic services is available at Aglow ENT Centre after taking patient history our ENT specialist in Singapore can provide the following diagnostic methods which may include blood tests, biopsies, imaging tests (x-ray, CT or MRI) and Fine-needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC).

Treatment for various lumps or swelling in the neck regions varies depending on what our ENT Specialist, Dr Ker Liang, finds. While some lumps can be observed with regular follow-up appointments, others, especially those indicative of cancer, may require surgical removal. In cases where malignancy is suspected, lymph nodes in the neck may also need to be excised to prevent the spread of cancer