Neck Lumps and Cysts – Are They Dangerous?

/2,980 Comments/in , /by

sebaceous cyst lump in neck

This sebaceous cyst would usually require no invasive treatment.

Lumps in the neck can be caused by a wide variety of things, some of which are relatively benign and others which warrant immediate attention and can be highly dangerous. Neck cancer, blood vessel inflammation, lymph node swelling and other problems may all be at the root of neck lumps and pain and so it is extremely important to discuss your symptoms with your doctor to find out the cause.

Some lumps in the neck are benign and pose no health issue but people may get them removed for cosmetic reasons. It is important to have this done by a qualified professional in order to minimize the risk of bleeding, infection, and scarring, especially in the case of larger cysts. Clearly, no cyst should be removed without having first been properly assessed by a physician.


In rare cases, benign cysts may actually begin to put pressure on the structures of the neck, especially in babies and small children. This may lead to breathing difficulties or difficulties swallowing. Again, the removal of a benign cyst should only be performed by a health care professional. A cyst is basically a cavity lined with epithelial cells that has no outward opening nor an internal opening. Open sores are not cysts and require immediate medical attention as they can indicate serious health issues and pose a risk of infection.

Sebaceous Cysts

In some cases, sebaceous cysts may arise and these often swell and are painful but shrink again and become asymptomatic with the use of antibiotics. These are harmless cysts that result from the obstruction of sebaceous glands in the skin. These glands produce the sebum (oil) that can flush toxins from the skin and maintain skin moisture. However, where sebum production is excessive or where the gland’s duct becomes blocked the oil may back up and cause a cyst to develop.


Such cysts may simply be treated with a warm compress to open the duct, gentle cleansing and a gradual draining of the built-up fluid. In cases where there is a large cyst it may require removal involving a local anaesthetic injection and a small skin incision. This is not normally problematic because the cyst is on the surface of the skin and so no deeper tissue is involved. A couple of stitches and a couple of weeks of healing usually see the skin returning to normal, although a little discoloration at the incision site may take longer to smooth out.

If sebaceous cysts occur regularly then it is a good idea to consider the causes, such as repeated skin infections, hormonal imbalances causing excess sebum production, dehydration, or other factor. A dermatologist should be able to help you with sebaceous cysts.

Other Causes of Lumps in the Neck

Some congenital issues can lead to the development of lumps in the neck, including lymphatic malformations such as cystic lymphangioma. Skin cancer, specifically metastatic squamous cell carcinoma may be the cause of a lump in the neck, as can cystic schwannomas, and acquired laryngoceles or even thyroid issues. If you have suffered from repeated sunburns, have a family history of cancer and have noticed changes in the appearance of moles, freckles or other skin irregularities then it is essential that you are assessed by a physician. Catching skin cancer early gives you the best shot at successful treatment so don’t let lumps in the neck persist without being checked out.

You might also like
Neck Pain and Posture - What's Triggering Your Neck Pain?
Living with Chronic Neck Pain
Fibromyalgia and Neck Pain
Tension Headaches and Neck Pain
Can a Herniated Disc Cause Headaches?
Brachial Plexus Injury in Babies
Bone Spur Treatments – Do Alternative Therapies Work?
Common Causes of Neck Pain in the Elderly
2980 replies
  165. http://tinyurl.com
    http://tinyurl.com says:

    Excellent post. I was checking constantly this blog and I’m impressed!

    Very useful info specially the last part 🙂 I care for
    such information a lot. I was looking for this certain information for a
    very long time. Thank you and good luck.

    Reply
  225. tinyurl.com
    tinyurl.com says:

    Hi there, I found your web site via Google
    at the same time as looking for a related matter, your site
    came up, it seems to be good. I’ve bookmarked it in my google bookmarks.

    Hi there, just changed into alert to your blog
    thru Google, and found that it is truly informative.
    I am going to watch out for brussels. I’ll be grateful should you continue
    this in future. Numerous people will probably be benefited from your writing.
    Cheers!

    Reply
  227. http://t.co/
    http://t.co/ says:

    I absolutely love your blog and find most of your post’s to be exactly I’m looking for.
    Would you offer guest writers to write content in your case?
    I wouldn’t mind creating a post or elaborating on a lot of the subjects you write related to here.
    Again, awesome web log!

    Reply
  293. http://tinyurl.com/26yrbrpt
    http://tinyurl.com/26yrbrpt says:

    of course like your web-site but you have to
    take a look at the spelling on several of your posts.

    Many of them are rife with spelling issues
    and I in finding it very troublesome to inform the reality however I’ll
    surely come back again.

    Reply
  350. tinyurl.com
    tinyurl.com says:

    Hello would you mind letting me know which webhost you’re utilizing?
    I’ve loaded your blog in 3 different browsers and
    I must say this blog loads a lot quicker then most.
    Can you recommend a good internet hosting provider at a honest price?
    Cheers, I appreciate it!

    Reply
  354. tinyurl.com
    tinyurl.com says:

    When I initially commented I clicked the “Notify me when new comments are added” checkbox and
    now each time a comment is added I get several e-mails with the same comment.
    Is there any way you can remove me from that service?
    Cheers!

    Reply
  363. special
    special says:

    I think this is one of the most important information for me.
    And i’m glad reading your article. But want to remark on few general
    things, The site style is wonderful, the articles is really great :
    D. Good job, cheers

    Check out my web blog … special

    Reply
  386. http://tinyurl.com/2lnmzy6j
    http://tinyurl.com/2lnmzy6j says:

    Hi there, I believe your web site could possibly be having browser compatibility problems.
    Whenever I take a look at your web site in Safari, it looks fine however, when opening in IE, it’s got some overlapping issues.
    I simply wanted to provide you with a quick heads up! Apart
    from that, fantastic blog!

    Reply