Lump at the base of inside right nostril

pillowmutt,

It sounds like it is not an infection, as you have had a course of a very good antibiotic (azithromycin), which would usually have taken care of a localized infection.

The fact that it has very little pain is actually a very good sign, as most malignancies are painful.

Actually, what it sounds like is an epidermal inclusion cyst (EIC). These cysts are very common. What they are, is a cyst of the usual skin secretions. What happens is, that for some reason, a few epidermal cells get pushed down below the skin surface. But, they continue to make their usual oils and other secretions. So, the oils, etc have nowhere to go, so a cyst is formed, containing these secretions.

These cysts can vary from very hard to actually water balloon feeling, sort of firm but mushy. They can decrease in size if the body resorbs some of the oils, then can enlarge, if the secretions increase.


Usually, if the cyst is in a location that is continually bumped or pressed upon, or if it bothers the patient, it is usually surgically excised. These cysts are very common in the palm of the hand, around the scalp, and in the axilla (armpit).


If the cyst was not very large when the CT scan was done, it could have very easily not shown up on the scan. An MRI would probably have been a better imaging study, as it looks at soft tissues better than the CT scan. The CT scan actually uses x-rays, so it is not as good at looking at soft tissues as the MRI (which uses a super coiled magnet).


But, you may have to have an excisional biopsy to find out what this is exactly. It sounds like it is in a fairly accessible location, and in a place that the scar could be hidden in the folds around the nostrils.


Hope it turns out to be something benign and easily treated. Good luck.

Thank you for the advice and info. I was thinking of asking my ENT doctor for an MRI. The lump is now about the size of a penny. It definitely has gotten larger the last month and sometimes annoying and uncomfortable due to the pressure. I hate to have surgery on my face, but I rather live with a small scar than the pressure pain. I was really worried that it might be cancer.

Thanks again for the info.

Did you ever find out what it was? Curious because I have the same problem.

I have what sounds like the same thing- although mine is painful I will definitely keep in mind these comments when seeing the ENT, thanks.

hello, i am only 13 comming up for 14 this year, i have had this lump on the side of my nose for quite some time and its under the skin, its hard and feels weird to touch, i never thaught about it untill somone noticed it and thaught it could be a cancerous lump

FIRST THINGS FIRST, QUIT USING NEEDLES TO LANCE YOUR CYSTS, IF YOU DO INDEED DO THIS MEDICAL PROCEDURE YOURSELF, GET AN EXACTO KNIFE AND STERILIZE IT. THAT"S THE PROPER SIZE BLADE FOR LANCING AS THE HOLE FROM A SEWING NEEDLE IS TOO SMALL TO LET THE INFECTION OOZE OUT, You have to basically pop it with a bad lance which causes more complications so do it right from the get go. So that's out of the way, off to my problems.

i got one in my nose too. No head yet so I can't lance it. I've gotten really good at lancing cysts over the years but you must make sure it's ready. When you lance one that isn't ready, you end up with more infection and a bigger scar. I know how hard it is to let something so painful play out and wanting to rid it asap but I suppose this is one thing you can't rush.

First my nose got super dry, crusty and scabby around the edges and when the weather got better, that went away but it left a nasty infection. I've had a ton of cysts being a sufferer of cystic acne which I wouldn't wish upon my worst enemy. It's like super ance for adults that leaves pocks and just tears you up.

Luckily when accutane was available still, I was able to get a handle on it but I still get the occational cyst. First time I got one in my nose so it's something I don't know how to deal with.

A doctor told me it's probably staph just from describing it to him so I'm hoping a course of good antibiotics remedies this. It's so painful that it's keeping me up at nights. I have chronic pain therefore I have great painkillers and even those weren't putting a dent in the pain. I can live with it but not much longer. It's probably not ready yet to have excised and I hope it doesn't come to that but when a cyst needs to be lanced, it's the best feeling in the world. I had a cyst that made my eye swell shut and when they and by they I mean I lanced that with an exacto knife , man was it nasty but I was able to open my eye again.

Man, this sure sucks. Anyone have a suggestion, especially on preventing these and don't say hygene, i get that too much, being told I'm dirty buy I wash my face at least 2x sometimes 3x a day so it's not the hygense. THey just assumed that because they couldn't see how a clean person would get cysts. Ignorance is all that was so I can't hold it against them.

So i have the same issue going on... Its only been a few days but... It hurts...... It started off with my ear hurting... Then my nose. Im really scared to see my pcp reading all of the information on web... None of it has been good.. I can. Also feel it in my mouth at thebase of my nose... It feel like it is getting bigger... And its only the right side of my face... I really dont know what to do?? Did you ever find out what it was??