The appearance of a lump in the throat can be caused by various things. Although most are harmless, this condition should still be watched out for because it could be a sign of a serious illness.
A lump in the throat usually causes a feeling like something is stuck in the neck. These lumps can be caused by irritation, infection, and even cancer. In addition, there are also other conditions that can cause a person to feel a lump in the throat, even though there is not really one.
Various Causes of Lumps in Throat
There are several conditions that can cause a lump in the throat, including:
1. Enlarged tonsils
Enlarged tonsils can occur in children and adults. Enlarged tonsils in children are usually caused by infections, especially those that are recurrent or that have been untreated for a long time (chronic tonsillitis).
In adults, enlarged tonsils can be caused by infection, irritation, or allergies. Symptoms usually include snoring during sleep, bad breath, and of course a lump in the throat.
If caused by infection, enlarged tonsils can be treated with antibiotics. Meanwhile, allergies or irritation are usually treated with antihistamines or corticosteroids. However, if the tonsils are too large and causing difficulty breathing, the doctor will suggest surgery.
2. Benign tumors in the throat
A lump in the throat can also be caused by the growth of a benign tumor. Benign tumors in the throat can be of various types, for example: schwannoma, papilloma, hemangiomas, and neurofibromas. To find out the type of tumor, it is necessary to examine the tumor tissue first.
These tumors can occur in various parts of the throat, including the back wall of the throat and larynx (voice tube). Although most are harmless and can be treated with surgery, papilloma and neurofibromas have the potential to turn into malignant tumors.
Symptoms are felt depending on the location of the tumor. Tumor growth in the back wall of the throat can cause a lump in the throat and difficulty swallowing, while tumors in the larynx can cause voice changes.
3. Throat cancer
Throat cancer is a malignant tumor that grows in the area of the throat, larynx, or tonsils. If the stage is high, the tumor can spread to other parts of the body. The most common type of throat cancer is squamous cell carcinoma.
Throat cancer can be characterized by a lump in the throat, accompanied by pain, voice changes, chronic cough, and weight loss. Throat cancer can happen to anyone. However, men, heavy smokers, and alcoholics are more at risk for developing this disease.
Throat cancer treatment is based on the stage of the cancer. From the lowest to the highest stage, the order of treatment for throat cancer is surgery, radiotherapy, combined chemotherapy and radiotherapy, then immunotherapy.
4. Globus sensation
The presence of a lump in the throat usually causes a feeling of lump and difficulty swallowing. However, there is a feeling of lump in the throat that is not actually caused by a lump. This is called a globus sensation and is actually quite common. Usually, sufferers feel there is a lump in the throat, but can still swallow well.
Some of the factors that cause this globus sensation are:
- Throat muscle strain, which occurs on its own or is caused by irritation from stomach acid reflux (GERD)
- Excess mucus from the nose or sinuses that builds up in the throat
- Emotional reactions when anxious, scared, or overly excited
A lump in the throat is usually not visible from the outside, but can be felt and causes airway obstruction. In contrast to the lump on the neck that is visible from the outside. This condition usually does not cause airway obstruction unless it is severe.
Immediately consult a doctor if you feel something is stuck in your throat, especially if it is accompanied by other complaints, such as difficulty swallowing, sore throat that does not go away, and weight loss.