Neck tumors are abnormal growths of cells located in the neck of an individual. A neck tumor can be benign or malignant. Benign tumors are not cancerous, while malignant tumors are cancerous.
A neck tumor is different from a neck cyst. Cysts are sacs filled with air, fluid, or some other material. Tumors are growths of cells and therefore are not filled with anything other than cell mass. Cysts can also be benign or cancerous, but most cysts are benign.
Symptoms of neck tumors can be obvious or subtle. Lumps and neck pain are obvious symptoms of neck tumors. Smaller tumors may not cause noticeable lumps or pain and may be more difficult to detect.
Not all neck masses or pain are caused by tumors. Swelling and tenderness in the neck can be a side effect of other problems, such as bruising or infection. If swelling or tenderness occurs as a result of an external injury to the neck, it is most likely not a neck tumor. Infections often lead to swollen lymph nodes in the neck or other areas of the body. When swelling and tenderness in the neck are accompanied by other symptoms, such as a runny nose or rash, the symptoms are likely caused by an infection and not a tumor.
Once a neck lump is diagnosed, a doctor will usually perform a biopsy to determine if the lump is malignant or benign. To perform the biopsy, the doctor will remove cells from the tumor for analysis in a laboratory. An antiseptic is usually applied to numb the area around the tumor before the cells are removed. Biopsy results are usually available a few days after the sample is taken.
A benign tumor does not spread to other parts of the body. Benign neck tumors may or may not be removed. If the tumor is removed, it will most likely not grow back.
Malignant tumors are cancerous and must be treated immediately. The first step once a malignant neck tumor is diagnosed is to see if the cancer is confined to one location or has spread to other parts of the body. If the cancer is only found in the neck tumor, or has spread only to the lymph nodes in the neck, surgical removal of the tumor is the most likely treatment. The goal of surgery will be to remove all of the cancer without having to use other cancer treatment options.
If the cancer has spread to other areas of the body or cannot be completely removed by surgery, other treatment options may be sought. Radiation and chemotherapy have been effective in shrinking and killing cancer cells. These treatments may be used individually or in combination with each other along with surgery, depending on the severity and location of the cancer.