What Does a Lump in Your Armpit Mean?
Andrew Rynne
I am a retired medical practitioner and the Author of two published books, with a third on its way.. - The Reverend Psychopath, The Foxhunter. -- a tragedy of medical negligence and an autobiography.
The question, “What does a lump in your armpit mean”, may have several answers!
A lump under the armpit or axilla is normally a reflexion of one or more of the lymphatic nodes which are located under the arm. It is recognized by many names, such as, axillary abscess, axillary lymphadenopathy and lymphedema. The armpit lump is very often uncomfortable and annoying. It can in some cases cause extreme pain even when barely touched lightly. This can in some extreme cases excludes a person from actually wearing clothes comfortably. The way to lead a comfortable and healthy life once again is to find out or diagnose the cause and have that cause treated effectively.
WE ARE HERE TO HELP YOU
Having a lump in your armpit can be a serious problem, and will most likely be connected to your lymph nodes. Getting a professional diagnosis early on can put your mind at rest!
In a study published in the medical journal Tumori, thirty people with lumps in their armpits were broken down as follows: Nine patients had occult breast cancer, 5 of them in the contralateral breast. Seven had metastatic lymph nodes of non-ductal origin, and 1 had carcinoma of apocrine cells with metastasis to the axilla. Four patients had benign lymphadenopathy which disappeared spontaneously, and 4 others had ruptured infundibular follicular cyst, nodular fibromatosis, inflammatory tuberculous and inflammatory rheumatoid lymphadenitis. Five had an ectopic breast (2 with a fibroadenoma and 3 with fibrocystic changes). One patient had an axillary lipoma.
In plain English from this you can see that the causes of lumps in your armpit or axilla are many and varied and that sometimes they are a manifestation of quite serious underlying disease. Lumps in your armpit therefore can never be taken lightly and an explanation always needs to be found.
- 9 out of this group of 30 people had breast cancer that was not otherwise obvious or diagnosed. So the first sign of their having this disease was signalled by a lump in the armpit.
- 7 of these people with lump in armpit had lymph node that contained cancer cells spread there from elsewhere in the body.
- 4 people with enlarged lymph glands were reflecting infection perhaps in the hand or arm. Or perhaps a reaction from shaving or deodorant use. These went away spontaneously and without treatment.
- 4 others had various benign cystic masses within the skin of the armpit.
- 5 had ectopic breast tissue within the axilla. This may sometimes be a miniature breast or, more often, simply be breast tissue within the armpit.
- 1 person had an axillary lipoma or benign collection of fatty tissue.
In deciding on a diagnosis for axillary lumps in your case three approaches may be taken.
SIMPLE PHYSICAL EXAMINATION
Often, by simply looking at and palpating the lump in your armpit an experienced doctor will be able to reach a diagnosis without the need for further testing.
ULTRASOUND EXAMINATION
An ultrasound is a diagnostic device that allows for the three dimensional real-time visualization of distant bodily parts and organs. Today ultrasound machines are laptop sized.
BIOPSY
Under local anaesthetic the suspect tissue – usually a lymph gland in this case, is excised, fixed in wax, sliced into micro fine slivers, put under an electron microscope and examined. This is the definitive test for diagnosing suspicious lumps in your axilla. It may not always be necessary of course.
WE ARE HERE TO HELP YOU
Having a lump in your armpit can be a serious problem, and will most likely be connected to your lymph nodes. Getting a professional diagnosis early on can put your mind at rest!