Neck Mass/Cancer

A neck mass is alump or bump in the neck. A neck mass can be located in any part of the neck, and be of any size and shape.
One may be able to see or feel / palpate some of the masses.

In general, a neck mass may represent the following processes:

• Inflammatory
• Infectious
• Neoplastic

Inflammatory neck masses may be due to flu, allergies, skin conditions, sun burn, etc.
Infectious neck masses may be due to viral or bacterial infection of the sinus, throat, teeth.
Neoplastic neck masses may be benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). Benign masses may include congenital cysts, salivary gland tumors, nerve tumors, thyroid nodules. Malignant masses may include lymphoma, salivary gland cancers, or metastatic cancer from somewhere else in the body (skin, aerodigestive tract, thyroid, salivary gland).

Symptoms of a worrisome neck mass include:

• The mass lasts more than 2-3 weeks
• The mass increases in size or be associated pain
• Voice changes or breathing issues
• Difficulty swallowing or pain with swallowing
• Unexplained weight loss
• Nasal symptoms such as obstruction or bleeding
• Hemoptysis or coughing up blood
• Skin lesions
• Earaches

Dr Jason Kim, MD, offers full evaluation and treatment plans for those with persistent neck mass. As part of the work up, Dr Kim will perform physical examination, flexible endoscopy (where a small camera is inserted into the nose or throat), imaging studies (CT, MRI, PET/CT, IN-OFFICE ultrasound), and/or fine needle aspiration biopsy in the office.

If you experience any neck mass, please call our office at 714-519-3545 immediately.