Armpit lump
Alternate Names : Lump in the armpit, Localized lymphadenopathy - armpit, Axillary lymphadenopathy, Axillary lymph enlargement, Lymph nodes enlargement - axillary, Axillary abscess
Home Care & Treatment
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: 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:
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