Lump below right clavicle.

It may be the case that you fractured or dislocated the cartilaginous portion of the rib that joins the rib to the sternum during your coughing spells. A "rib series" x-ray may be helpful. (If not, then one could consider ordering a bone scan, and perhaps a CT scan of the chest, to rule-out the presence of a tumor.)



Sincerely,


Robert A. Wascher, MD, FACS

www.doctorwascher.com

Author, "A Cancer Prevention Guide for the Human Race" (2010)

Thank you so much for the reply Doctor, It has eased my mind.

I plan on making an appointment for further investigation soon.

I found a small lump near my 7 year old sons calavical bone,its not sore r anything,im worried,doctor is sending him 4 xray,what could it be

Ladeeelisa,

Unfortunately, it could be one of several things. But, a good thing is that malignant tumors are rare. They do have to be ruled out, but benign processes are a lot more common.

You do not say exactly where the mass is located. There is a growth plate in the clavicle where it attaches to the sternum (breast bone). This growth plate is very easily injured in active young gentlemen. This can cause a lump to form.

If the lump is in the soft tissues, there are many benign tumors such as epidermal inclusion cysts, sebaceous cysts, fibromas, granulomas, etc.


Since it is not painful, that is a very good sign. Most malignant processes are painful. So, try not to worry too much until the mass has been evaluated. X-rays are a good first step. The vast majority of masses can be diagnosed with examination and x-rays. Then depending upon what is found on the x-rays, further studies may be needed. These could include blood work, bone scan, CT scan, and/or MRI. Again, most of the time these are not needed.


Again, try not to worry too much. I know it's hard when your child is involved. Get the x-rays and go from there. Good luck.

My gp rang me today,she said something faint showing up on ray and their not sure wat it is,if he's still complaing to bring him back,I told her he hasn't complained at all,and that I spotted the lump,she told me to bring him over nxt week,she didn't seem to worried,but im worried sick,its under left side of calavicle,kind of where ur neck cums down, just under it and abit to the left f it,its hard to explain

Ladeeelisa,

I know it is hard, but try not too worry too much. The fact that the young man in not complaining of the mass bothering him is a very good sign.

Again, there are a whole host of benign soft tissues processes that this could be. A faint shadow on the x-ray is helpful, in that it rules out a bunch of bad things.

It does not seems to involve the bone, at least it is not a lytic (destructive) or blastic (bone forming). It does not seem to be a bone tumor.

A faint shadow on x-ray usually means that the soft tissue mass is solid. A cyst, such as a ganglion cyst, since it is fluid filled, what not show up on x-ray.

It could be a shotty lymph node. These are lymph nodes that have been swollen in the past, but the process that initially caused the node to enlarge, is no longer active. The node stays a little swollen, but is no longer tender.

There are a bunch of skin and subcutaneous masses, such as epidermal inclusion cysts and sebaceous cysts. These are very common around the head and neck region, but can occur anywhere on the body.

There is a benign fat tumor called a lipoma, that can occur anywhere on the body, and are very common.


So, again, try not to worry too much. The chances of this being something bad are very small. And, since it is not bothering your son, that is a great sign.

The physician will take a look at the mass. Most can be diagnosed based on the exam. But, if there is any concern, or if an exact diagnosis is needed, then the physician may order other tests, based on what she finds on the exam. These tests could include things such as an MRI, CT scan, bone scan, blood work, and in very rare cases, maybe even a biopsy.


Try not to worry and also, try not to upset your son. Let us know what the physician thinks this is, as other mothers may be in the same situation. Good luck.

I brought my son back 2 gp,shes referring him 2 an orthtapeadric surgeon,i sent letter off,still waiting on appointment,i asked her could she send him for an ultrasound scan,she said she cant that it would be up 2 the orthtapeadric surgeon to do that,but it wasnt a bone that showed up,so wuld he be able to get to the bottom of it

Ladeeelisa,

Yes, an orthopedic surgeon should be able to determine what is going on. They are trained in diagnosing and managing all sorts of masses, that affect both soft tissues and bone.

Usually, with soft tissue masses, an MRI is done, as that study looks at the soft tissues best. CT scans are done when the bone is involved, or as screening studies for staging of tumors. Ultrasounds are usually used if the mass is suspected of being a fluid filled cyst. But, since US images are not very precise, their use is limited.

If the orthopedic surgeon finds that the mass is something that an oncologist needs to take care of, you may be referred to an orthopedic oncologist. Also, if the mass turns out to involve the chest structures, a thoracic surgeon may be consulted.

But, this is getting ahead of ourselves. What the lump is made of has to be determined first. And again, the fact that it is not painful and was only found incidentally, is a very good sign for it being something benign.

Try not to worry. Get the appointment with the orthopedic surgeon and see how it goes. Good luck. Keep us informed of how things go.

I was told i b waiting at least 6 months 4 an appointment,which i couldnt believe,so i took him 2 A&E at a different hospital,bloods where fine got another xray,doc rang me 2day,he said it looks like a cracked bone,and that he will have 2 get another xray nxt week,i dont know which hospital is right,one said a lucency and now other thinks cracked bone

Ladeeelisa,


A lucency in a bone can mean a lot of things. In general, it just means that there is a defect in the bone which has less bone mineralization in that area. Types of lucencies are bone cysts, healing fractures, and lytic tumors.

If there was a fracture (crack) and the body resorbed some of the bone from around the edges, it could be called a lucency.

Usually, it is quite easy to tell the difference between a fracture and a cyst or tumor. But, there are some cases where it can be a little confusing.


Do you every remember a time, say around just before Christmas, that your son was favoring the arm? It is very easy for active young boys to crack a clavicle. But, usually, these at least hurt for a little while.


While a bone cyst (the benign ones) usually do not hurt and are found incidently.


The lesions that are malignant, usually are quite painful.



So, you are really in a conundrum. However, at least the new x-ray did not look bad. If it was something concerning, usually they progress fairly quickly.


Hopefully, another x-ray in 2 weeks will show what this definitely is.


Hang in there. Try not to worry too much.

Thanks 4 all ur help,the only thing i can remember was afew weeks ago he was complaining on and off 4 two days with pains in the back of his neck,i just thought it was from playing computers,the doctor said he must have a strong treshold 4 pain,but he doesent

Gaelic

Hi there. I have a 10 year old son with a lump on his right clavicle which I noticed last week. I brought him to our family GP and was sent for an x-ray, saying not to rush as it is not an urgent issue but we immediately went to have his x-ray done the following day anyway as I couldn't help but worry. His lump is painless but hard as a bone about less than 1 cm in diameter (my guess). At first, he suspected osteochondroma as that's what he wrote in the x-ray request but when we came back for the x-ray results, the x-ray revealed a tiny area of cortical thickening on the superior surface of the outer third of the clavicle at the site of clinical lump (reading from the x-ray result) and it turned out no significant findings were found. The GP told me it was probably something that grew from my active son hurting his clavicle before and was probably too busy playing to complain or even tell me about it. But the doctor also advised me to carefully investigate and watch for growth and any changes on the area to be sure. He did not advise any further tests nor referred us to a specialist. My question is, do you think the diagnosis is correct or it is still best to seek a second opinion about this? I can't help but worry. Thanks in advance and regards.

hi ye,my son was sent to a specialist,but he just said part of his bone is thicker,and it will even out as he gets older,he said his bones are still forming,i was also asked did he ever injure himself 2,its so worrying,but i felt so much better after seen specialist,because when he had an xray i was told something showed up,my gp gave me letter for appointment after xray,and appointment wasnt for a yr later,which i thought was a disgrace,so i brought him to A&E,and told them nothing about xrays etc,and they got to the bottom of it straight away,sent to a specialist in afew days