Let's face it, the mere thought of a lump in the armpit gives us goose bumps. In many cases the causes that cause it are not serious, but in others you may have to watch it more closely.
So what should you do if you have found a lump in your armpit? Before worrying, go to your doctor so that, in addition to the medical history, he will do a careful physical examination. Depending on their assessment, they may request a blood test and, in the case of women, a mammogram. If a diagnosis cannot be made or the source of the inflammation is suspected to be malignant, a node biopsy is usually necessary.
If you find a lump in your armpit, go to your doctor to assess it
What is the most common cause?
Most likely it is a boil, that is, an infection of the hair follicle, or hidradenitis, inflammation of the sweat glands. Both are very identifiable processes on a clinical examination. In the case of the boil, its treatment is clear: it begins with disinfectant ointments and hot compresses; Antibiotics may be required and, in some cases, an incision with a scalpel is necessary to facilitate the release of pus.
It can also be due to a swollen lymph node. In this case it will be necessary to analyze its origin, since it may be due to a serious illness.
It may be due to an infection of the hair follicle or hidradenitis
What are lymph nodes and what do they do?
They are small structures in the form of nodules that are found in the lymphatic vessels and that, like the entire lymphatic system, participate in the defense of the body. The function of the lymph nodes is to filter the lymphatic fluid or lymph, collect and destroy microorganisms such as bacteria and viruses.
Why do they get inflamed?
When the body is fighting an infection, the lymphocytes (cells of the immune system) inside the nodes multiply rapidly and the nodes become swollen. But these can also increase in size when they contain cancer cell metastases.
And in the specific case of the lymph nodes in the armpits …
They can be swollen from inflammation in the arm or breast, but they can also be a symptom of breast cancer or lymphoma. Although in most cases, inflammation is due to harmless processes and you should not worry. As we have said, it is best that you go directly to your doctor.
It can be a swelling in the arm or breast, or a sign of cancer
Is the size of the node important?
The size is variable and it is not only necessary to take this element into account, but also where it is. In healthy people, the size can vary from 0.5 to 1 cm in diameter, although the nodes located in the groin can reach 2 cm and that does not always mean that there is a problem.
In contrast, a node in the neck that is palpable is always a sign of a problem. And the armpit nodes are only considered problematic if they exceed 1 cm in diameter.
What if they hurt? If not?
The symptoms of swollen lymph nodes are highly variable, sometimes painful and sometimes not. A sudden and painful swelling of the lymph nodes is often associated with an infectious cause; and slow, painless swelling, with a cancer or tumor. However, there is not always this agreement between ganglion pain and severity or mildness of the cause, so pain cannot be considered as a good criterion to discriminate between benign and malign.
Pain is not a good criterion to identify the benignity or malignancy of the inflammation
What if they are hard or soft?
Soft swollen glands are usually due to infection. While those of hard consistency are typical of cancer metastases. Besides, lymph nodes that can move are usually associated with infections, and those that are fixed, anchored in the tissue, are associated with cancerous processes.
Does age have something to do with it?
Age is the most important prognostic factor regarding the probability of benignity or malignancy. In young people, the causes are usually infectious or benign. On the other hand, from the age of 40-50, the incidence of malignant diseases increases.
Do I have to pay attention to the appearance of other symptoms?
Yes, because they can give us clues to make a diagnosis and determine what is the cause of the swollen lymph node. For example, if in addition to being inflamed, it also hurts, is soft and mobile and symptoms such as earache, pain when swallowing, rhinitis or skin lesions occur, then the cause is most likely of infectious origin.
In contrast, if the patient is young and has swollen glands that do not hurt and are accompanied by fever, night sweats, itching, unexplained weight loss, and fatigue, they are symptoms of a possible Hodgkin lymphoma.
