What should you know about a round lump on the back of your neck?

A lump may be a swollen lymph node responding to infection, a skin or soft-tissue growth, or another neck mass. A neck lump can also be a presentation of head and neck cancer, lymphoma, thyroid cancer, or cancer of unknown primary, but the lump alone cannot identify the cause.

The clinician will consider whether it is tender, mobile, firm, attached to deeper tissue, changing in size, or associated with recent infection. They may examine the scalp, mouth, throat, thyroid area, and nearby lymph-node regions.

Arrange a clinical assessment if the lump persists, enlarges, returns, or has no clear explanation. Note when you first noticed it, whether it changes, and any fever, night sweats, weight change, sore throat, voice change, or difficulty swallowing. Do not squeeze or repeatedly press it.

Assessment may include an examination, imaging, blood tests, or a tissue sample when needed. Depending on findings, your clinician may discuss [Head and Neck Cancer](/conditions/head-and-neck-cancer/) or [Lymphoma](/conditions/lymphoma/) as possibilities to evaluate.

Seek prompt medical review for a rapidly enlarging, hard, fixed, or painless lump, or for a lump with persistent voice change, swallowing difficulty, unexplained weight loss, drenching night sweats, or ongoing fever. Seek urgent help for trouble breathing, inability to swallow fluids, or sudden severe swelling.

Where is the lump located anatomically? Does it feel like a lymph node or a skin or soft-tissue lesion? Which examination or scan is appropriate? If testing is needed, would a biopsy help establish the cause? When should I return if it does not change?