Swelling and/or lump that does not belong to the natural structure of the body is defined as a mass. Masses that can form in many parts of the body can occur due to accidents and traumas called hematoma, bleeding under the skin, or they can be seen in relation to many different diseases such as abscess, furonculosis, swelling of the lymph nodes and cancer.
What is the Cause of Armpit Swelling?
Furonculosis, which can be defined as acne-like swelling under the armpit, is the most common cause of palpable masses in the armpit area. Furonculosis can be explained as inflammation of the hair root. The sweat secreted from the coccyx glands due to the ingrown hair follicle cannot come out of the skin pore and turns into an inflamed structure under the skin. Although these structures, which may look like large pimples, tend to heal spontaneously over time, they may turn into cystic structures in some cases. These structures, which are defined as lymphadenitis in the medical language, may occur due to viral or bacterial infections.
These benign lymph growths that do not exceed 1-2 cm in diameter in general are called fibroadenoma or cyst in the breast region. In the event that such swellings, which can also occur in the armpit area, do not tend to shrink, reach very large diameters such as 5 to 10 cm, or distort the shape of neighboring tissues, a physician should be examined and the present mass should be investigated and its cause should be investigated.
Another part of the palpable masses in the armpit area is caused by different types of cancer. Lymphoma types, blood and breast cancers can cause mass formation in the armpit. Masses such as glands, swelling and lumps that occur due to cancer diseases must be taken seriously and shown to the physician as soon as they are noticed. Before moving on to malignant cancer types that cause mass formation in the armpit, it should be well understood what the masses in the armpit are. These swellings and bumps, which are usually felt as lumps under the skin, can cause pain at times. This situation, which can be caused by a simple abscess or inflammation of the hair follicle, can also be caused by cancer types that threaten the person's life from time to time. Therefore, in the presence of a mass in the armpit, it is recommended to consult a physician without losing time to understand the cause of this mass.
An important part of the swelling seen under the armpit develops with the swelling of the lymph nodes. The masses of the axillary region, which are connected to the lymph nodes, which can be defined as the main elements of the immune system, are mostly small. This situation, which can occur due to the use of antiperspirant products, can also be caused by more serious health problems from time to time. If the existing mass tends to grow rather than heal or becomes permanent, the cause of the mass should be investigated.
In the treatment of armpit masses, which can occur due to very serious health problems such as Hodgkin Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin lymphoma and breast cancer, better response is obtained than other types of cancer.
It may cause symptoms such as fever, sleep problems and weight loss. Before going into the details of these cancer types that cause cancer, it is necessary to take a look at the types of diseases that cause mass formation in the armpit area.
A Mass in the Armpit Area Can Be a Precursor of Which Diseases?
Masses in the armpit area It can be caused by lipomas, which can be defined as harmless adipose tissue growth, or it can be caused by cancer types such as lymphoma. Therefore, in the presence of a mass under the armpit, it is recommended to be examined by a physician without wasting time. Some of the diseases that cause mass formation in the armpit area can be listed as follows:
- Viral infections,
- Bacterial infections,
- Hidradenitis Suppurativa (a type of inflammatory skin disease)
- Allergic reactions,
- Reactions due to vaccines,
- Lipomas (adipose tissue growth),
- Furonculosis (inflammation of hair follicles),
- Fibroadenoma (benign mass in the breast)
- Swelling of the lymph nodes,
- Leukemia,
- Breast cancer,
- Lymphoma.
In Which Cancer Types a Palpable Mass in the Armpit Area Is Observed?
Formed in the armpit area Palpable masses can also be caused by cancer types. The early diagnosis of palpable masses, that is, due to malignant tumors, enables faster and more effective treatment. The types of cancer that can lead to masses in the armpit are as follows:
Leukemia (Blood Cancer): Leukemia, one of the most common types of cancer in children and adults over the age of 50, occurs when the stem cell types in the bone marrow stop developing or multiply uncontrollably. In the presence of leukemia, which has two different types, acute and chronic, the person's immune system weakens and the person becomes more susceptible to infections.
Leukemia causes symptoms such as gingival and nose bleeding, skin bruises, red rashes, loss of appetite, weakness, fatigue, night sweats, shortness of breath, and swelling in the abdomen. In the presence of leukemia, swelling is seen in the lymph nodes in the neck and armpit region. Treatment of leukemia, which can be diagnosed by the increase of cancer cells in the blood, is done in different ways depending on the type of leukemia.
Breast Cancer: Breast cancer, which is the most common type of cancer in women, is rarely seen in men. Breast cancer, which is formed by the uncontrolled proliferation of cells in the milk ducts or mammary glands in the breast tissue, is characterized by palpable masses in the armpit area and breast. The disease can cause symptoms such as nipple discharge, nipple discoloration, collapse, deformity, rash, peeling, redness and scar formation, as well as symptoms such as pain, weakness and fatigue in the breast.
Family history of breast cancer is also important in breast cancer, which can occur due to factors such as radiation exposure, advanced age, obesity, early menstruation, sedentary lifestyle, alcohol and cigarette use. In other words, the risk of developing breast cancer in people with a family history of breast cancer is higher than other people.
The presence of breast cancer, which can be diagnosed by mammography and / or magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, can also be detected by methods such as ultrasound, computed tomography (CT) and biopsy in some cases. Surgical methods such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, hormone therapy, mastectomy and lumpectomy In order for the curable breast cancer to be diagnosed at an early stage, the person should regularly check their breasts manually every month and have a mammogram every 6 months.
Lymphoma (Lymph Cancer): Lymphocytes, one of the white blood cells (WBC, white blood cells, leukocytes) Lymphoma, which is formed by the uncontrolled proliferation, is divided into two as Hodgkin Lymphoma and Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. Lymphoma, one of the most common types of cancer in childhood, consists of 4 stages.
The enlarged lymph nodes, cough, swelling of the tonsils, fever, night sweats, weakness, weight loss, itching and shortness of breath are among the common symptoms in this type of cancer, which can cause different symptoms in the person depending on the stage of the disease. Lymph node enlargement, which can be noticed as a mass in the armpit area, can be caused by many different reasons. Therefore, in addition to laboratory tests, lymph node biopsy should be performed for the diagnosis of the disease. Different radiological imaging methods and bone marrow biopsy may be needed to determine the stage of lymphoma.
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