What should you know about a golf-ball-sized lump in the neck?

The neck contains lymph nodes, the thyroid, salivary glands, muscles, blood vessels, and skin. A lump may follow a throat, ear, or dental infection, or it may be a cyst, lipoma, thyroid nodule, or enlarged thyroid. Some lumps need investigation for lymphoma, thyroid cancer, or head and neck cancer. A clinician will consider the exact position, texture, movement, tenderness, duration, and associated symptoms rather than relying on its size or a photograph.

Contact a doctor or clinic for an appointment and record the date you first noticed the swelling. Mention recent infections, dental treatment, smoking or alcohol exposure, voice changes, swallowing trouble, and any change in size. Examination may be followed by ultrasound, blood tests, cross-sectional imaging, or a fine-needle sample. The choice depends on what is found. Do not take antibiotics or thyroid treatment solely because a lump is present, and do not attempt to drain it.

Seek emergency help for breathing trouble, severe choking, or sudden swelling of the tongue or throat. Seek prompt medical review when the lump is enlarging, hard, stuck in place, associated with persistent hoarseness, or accompanied by unexplained weight loss or night sweats. A red or painful lump may reflect inflammation, but worsening pain or fever also deserves timely advice.

Ask what structure the lump seems to involve, whether an ultrasound can clarify it, and when a biopsy would be considered. Ask how results will be communicated, whether you need a specialist, and what symptom should trigger an earlier review.