The appearance of a lump on the right side of the neck can be caused by many things, ranging from infection, swollen lymph nodes, to tumors. Each of these causes can cause different symptoms and require different treatment.
Inside the neck, on both the right and left sides, are many tissues, muscles, blood vessels, nerves, and lymph nodes. In addition, in the neck there are also several other important organs, such as the thyroid and parathyroid glands.
If these organs are disturbed, they can enlarge to cause a lump in the neck. The lump does not only appear on the right side of the neck, but can also be on the left or even on both sides of the neck.
Causes of Lumps on the Right Neck
The appearance of a lump on the right side of the neck can be caused by several conditions or health problems, including:
1. Enlarged lymph nodes
Enlarged lymph nodes are the most common cause of lumps on the right side of the neck. This gland plays a role in forming the immune system to fight infection and cancer cells. When you are sick, the lymph nodes will usually enlarge to attack the cause of the infection.
Enlarged lymph nodes often result from ear infections, sinus infections or sinusitis, inflammation of the tonsils and throat, dental infections, or bacterial infections of the scalp.
2. Viral and bacterial infections
Various viral infections, such as HIV, herpes simplex, mononucleosis, rubella, and CMV, can cause lumps to appear on the right or left side of the neck.
Not only viral infections, bacterial infections around the ears, nose, and throat can also cause lumps on the right side of the neck.
Several bacterial infections can cause a lump on the right side of the neck, including strep throat, tonsillitis, and glandular tuberculosis. Most of these bacterial infections can be treated with antibiotics according to a doctor's prescription.
3. Goiter
A goiter is an abnormal enlargement of the thyroid gland in the neck due to a thyroid hormone deficiency or iodine deficiency. These lumps can appear on the right, left, or middle neck.
In addition to the appearance of a lump in the neck, a goiter can also sometimes cause several other symptoms, such as difficulty swallowing or breathing, coughing, and hoarseness.
4. Parapharyngeal abscess
A parapharyngeal abscess is a pus-filled lump that forms around the throat. In addition to the appearance of a lump in the neck, a parapharyngeal abscess can also cause symptoms of fever, sore throat, and difficulty swallowing. A lump in the neck due to a parapharyngeal abscess needs to be treated with antibiotics and surgery to drain the pus.
5. Tumor or cancer
Lumps in the neck are mostly benign, but sometimes the condition can also be caused by a malignant tumor or cancer. Cancers that can cause a lump in the neck, including thyroid cancer, lymphoma or lymph cancer, and throat cancer.
6. Cyst
A cyst is a fluid-filled lump that is usually harmless unless it becomes infected. There are several types of cysts that can cause lumps in the neck, namely acne cysts, atheroma cysts, and branchial cleft cysts.
7. Keloids
Keloids are the growth of scar tissue under the skin as a result of a cut or injury, such as a burn, acne breakout, tattoo, piercing, or surgery.
This condition sometimes appears 3 months or more after the skin is injured and continues to grow for years. Keloids can grow anywhere, but are more common around the chest, shoulders, head, and neck.
8. Autoimmune disease
Autoimmune disease is a condition when the body's immune system destroys healthy cells and tissues in the body, even though its job is to fight germs, viruses, and parasites that cause infection and cancer cells.
Several autoimmune diseases that cause lumps in the neck on the right or the other side, namely Graves' disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and lupus.
9. Chronic fatigue syndrome
This disorder causes sufferers to become very tired and less energetic. Chronic fatigue syndrome has no known cause, but it is thought to be caused by certain viral infections, immune disorders, and hormonal disorders.
Some causes of the appearance of a lump on the right side of the neck are harmless and can get better on their own. However, you need to immediately see a doctor if the lump on the right or left neck gets bigger or is accompanied by some of the following symptoms:
- Losing weight for no apparent reason
- Voice changes or hoarseness for more than 3 weeks
- Sweating at night
- Difficult to swallow
- Hard to breathe
- Coughing up blood
- Body feels tired
- Easy bruising
After the doctor performs a physical and supporting examination, such as blood tests, ultrasound, CT scan, X-ray, and biopsy, the doctor will determine the cause of the lump.
After the cause is known, the doctor will treat the neck lump on the right according to the underlying cause.
For example, if it is caused by a goiter, your doctor may advise you to undergo a high-iodine diet or undergo surgery, while to treat a lump caused by cancer, the doctor may perform surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy.
Whatever the cause, the lump on the right side of the neck should not be taken lightly. Therefore, you are advised to consult a doctor if you find a lump on the right side of the neck along with the symptoms mentioned above.