Friday, February, 10, 2012

Armpit lump

Table of Contents

Alternative Names

Lump in the armpit; Localized lymphadenopathy - armpit; Axillary lymphadenopathy; Axillary lymph enlargement; Lymph nodes enlargement - axillary; Axillary abscess


Home Care

Home care depends on the reason for the lump. Check with your health care provider to determine the cause.


Call your health care provider if

Call if you have any unexplained armpit lumps. Do not try to diagnose lumps without professional help.


What to expect at your health care provider's office

Your doctor will perform a physical examination and ask questions about your medical history and symptom, such as:

  • When did you first notice the lump?
  • Is it getting better, worse, or staying the same?
  • Are you breast-feeding?
  • Have you noticed any factors that make it worse?
  • What other symptoms are also present?
  • Is the lump painful?

The physical examination may include palpation -- gently pressing the nodes with the fingertips.

Testing depends on what is found during the physical examination. Tests that may be done include:

  • Blood tests, such as a complete blood count (CBC)
  • Kidney function tests
  • Liver function tests
  • Liver-spleen scan
  • Lymph node biopsy
  • Mammogram
  • Platelet count
  • X-ray of the chest

OUTLOOK

A lump in the armpit caused by a viral infection will eventually disappear without treatment. A lump in the armpit caused by an allergic reaction will go away after the "trigger" is removed. No treatment is necessary for a lump in the armpit caused by normal breast tissue. Usually, no treatment is necessary for a cyst.

A lump in the armpit caused by a lipoma is harmless, unless it grows so large that it causes discomfort.

The outlook for cancerous lumps depends on the specific type of cancer. See the following for more information:

  • Breast cancer
  • Hodgkin's lymphoma
  • Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
  • Leukemia

Review Date: 08/02/2009
Reviewed By: Linda Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)