Have you ever felt a lump or swelling behind your ear that you’re certain wasn’t there before? While a bump behind your ear may be cause for alarm, often these are harmless. But what are they and how can you treat them?
What is an ear lump?
An ear lump is a protuberance or localized area of swelling that can occur anywhere on the ear. Other terms used to describe the various types of lumps include bump, nodule, tumor, and cyst. Lumps can be caused by any number of conditions, including infections, inflammation, tumors, or trauma. Depending on the cause, ear lumps may be single or multiple, soft or firm, painful or painless. They may grow rapidly or may not change in size.
Common sites for ear lumps include your ear canal, ear lobe, and behind your ear. Ear lumps can be caused by exostoses and osteomas, which are types of tumors that grow in the bones of the ear canal. An ear lump and tenderness in the bone behind your ear, along with pain and swelling, could indicate mastoiditis (infection of the mastoid bone).
Ear lumps due to local infectious causes may appear as boils or abscesses. Many types of infections cause the lymph nodes behind and below the ears near the jawbone to enlarge and feel like lumps. Traumatic causes of lumps range from bug bites to severe injuries that can produce a localized collection of blood in the tissues (hematoma).
Both benign and malignant tumors of the skin, soft tissues, or organs can sometimes feel like lumps. In these cases, either a biopsy or surgical removal of the lump can determine whether cancer is present. Cysts, which are fluid-filled, sac-like structures that can form in various parts of the body, often feel like lumps. Some cysts may be present at birth, while others develop as a result of inflammation, tumors, or wear and tear over time. Sebaceous cysts are benign lumps filled with pus, dead skin cells, and excess oil.
Ear lumps caused by infection, inflammation, or trauma are usually temporary and subside as the underlying condition resolves. Ear lumps that persist or continue to grow over time may signal more serious conditions, such as tumors. A lump near the ear that is associated with a head injury may signal to bleed in the brain or another emergency and may have life-threatening complications. Seek immediate medical care (call 911) if you have a lump near your ear as a result of a head injury.
If you have any ear lump that is persistent or causes you concern, seek prompt medical care.
What caused my ear lump and how can I treat it?
In some cases, a lump is caused by an abscess or a sebaceous cyst. An abscess is a walled-off infection in the tissue of a particular area of the body. It may respond to antibiotics, although on occasion a drainage procedure may be necessary. A sebaceous cyst is when epithelial components that produce keratin are trapped under the skin, forming a cyst that is filled with white, cheese-like material.
Frequently, infections involving the ear or sinuses can lead to an inflamed or swollen lymph node behind the ear. These can be viral, although most are due to bacterial infections, especially ear infections in children. Most of these infections respond to antibiotics or treatment, but some may persist. If they are of less than two centimeters, though, they are of no concern.
Another cause is a lipoma – or lump of fatty tissue – although those are rare in this area of the body.
In less common cases, a lump behind or around the ear may be a tumor involved the parotid gland. Most of these are benign, although approximately 20 percent are malignant. These usually present either just below the ear or in front of the ear, though.
What other symptoms might occur with an ear lump?
An ear lump may be accompanied by other symptoms, depending on the underlying disease, disorder, or condition. Certain conditions that cause ear lumps may also involve other body systems.
Related localized symptoms that may occur along with an ear lump
An ear lump may be accompanied by other localized symptoms including:
- Itching
- Pus or discharge
- Redness, warmth, or swelling
- Tenderness or pain
Other symptoms that may occur along with an ear lump
An ear lump may accompany symptoms related to other body systems including:
- Cough
- Fever and chills
- Headache
- Joint stiffness and pain
- Runny nose
- Sore throat
- Sweating
- Unexplained weight loss
Serious symptoms that might indicate a life-threatening condition
In some cases, an ear lump may occur with other symptoms, which might indicate a serious or life-threatening condition that should be evaluated immediately in an emergency setting. Seek immediate medical care (call 911) if you, or someone you are with, have any of the following symptoms:
Change in level of consciousness or alertness, such as passing out or unresponsiveness
Change in mental status or sudden behavior change, such as confusion, delirium, lethargy, hallucinations, and delusions
Profuse or uncontrollable bleeding
The six main noncancerous causes of lumps behind the ear are
1. Acne
Acne occurs when the pores of the skin become blocked because of the overproduction of sebum by the sebaceous glands, which are located at the base of the hair follicle. The sebum produced by these glands mix with dead skin cells and then this mixture forms a pimple that can swell and become painful.
In rarer cases, acne can also affect the skin behind the ear, causing a lump that can disappear on its own.
2. Infection
Lumps behind the ear can be caused by infections in the throat or neck, such as pharyngitis, a cold, the flu, mononucleosis, otitis, conjunctivitis, herpes, cavities, gingivitis, or measles. This happens due to the swollen lymph nodes in the area, which increase in size as the body fights the infection.
When this happens, it’s important not to touch the swollen area so as to help with recovery, as the nodes slowly return to their original size as soon as the underlying infection has been treated.
3. Lipoma
Lipoma is another possible cause of lumps behind the ear. Lipomas are harmless, fatty lumps. They are not cancerous, grow very slowly, and do not spread. They are more common on other parts of the body but can occur anywhere under the skin, including behind the ear.
A lipoma feels soft to the touch. They are not usually tender or painful unless they press on nearby nerves. They will usually occur in a limited number of places. In rare cases, some people have many lipomas at once.
These lumps are often small and range from the size of a pea to inches across.
4. Mastoiditis
Mastoiditis is an infection in the bone located behind the ear and that can occur after an ear infection, especially if it wasn’t treated correctly.
This condition is more common in children under the age of 2, but it can occur at any age and have other symptoms such as headaches, decreased hearing ability, and fluid coming out of the ear.
5. Abscess
An abscess develops when tissue or cells in an area of the body become infected. Your body responds to the infection by trying to kill off the invading bacteria or virus. To fight the bacteria, your body sends white blood cells to the infected areas.
These white blood cells begin accumulating in the damaged location and as a result, pus begins to develop. Pus is a thick, fluid-like product that develops from dead white blood cells, tissue, bacteria, and other invading substances. Abscesses are often painful and warm to the touch.
6. Swollen lymph nodes
Lymph nodes, also known as lymph glands, are spread throughout the body, and when they become enlarged, this usually means an infection or inflammation of the area in which they appear. they may also become swollen due to autoimmune diseases, the use of drugs, or even cancer of the head and neck, or lymphoma, for example.
Lumps tend to have benign and temporary causes, measuring a few millimeters in diameter and disappearing in a period of about 3 to 30 days. However, if they continue to grow, last longer than 30 days, or if you have other symptoms such as weight loss and fever, it’s important to go to the doctor for the appropriate treatment.
Infectious causes of ear lumps
An infection may produce one or more ear lumps, which may represent localized abscesses or enlarged lymph nodes. Infectious causes of lumps include:
- Abscesses
- Boils
- Herpes virus infections
- Mononucleosis (a viral infection)
- Mumps (a viral infection of the salivary glands in the neck)
- Upper respiratory virus infection, including the common cold
Tumors that can cause ear lumps
Both benign and malignant tumors can cause lumps including:
- Fibroma (a benign tumor composed of fibrous or connective tissue)
- Lipoma (a benign fatty growth)
- Lymphoma (cancer of the lymphatic system)
- Melanoma (cancer arising in the melanocytes, or pigment-producing cells, in the skin or other parts of the body)
- Nevi (moles of the skin)
- Nonmelanoma skin cancers
What are the potential complications of an ear lump?
Ear lumps caused by cancer may have life-threatening consequences, which depend on the type and stage (extent) of cancer. Left untreated, ear lumps due to abscesses or serious infections may lead to widespread infection in the body. Following your treatment plan for serious causes of lumps can help reduce your risk of complications including:
- Ear infection
- Hearing loss
- Spread of cancer
- Spread of infection
Identifying lumps behind the ears
If you have a history of acne, it may be easy for you to diagnose a lump or bump behind your ear as a pimple. But for other people, figuring out what’s causing the raised area may be trickier.
How to self-check
Your hand is your best tool for detecting lumps or bumps behind your ears. Below are a few questions you can ask yourself:
- Does the lump feel soft and pliable? If so, it’s probably a lipoma.
- Is the spot tender and painful, especially when touched? Then it could be a pimple or an abscess.
- In addition to the bump, are you experiencing other symptoms, such as fever or chills? In that case, the lump could be another sign of an infection.
Swollen lymph nodes
Overview
Swollen lymph nodes usually occur as a result of infection from bacteria or viruses. Rarely, swollen lymph nodes are caused by cancer.
Your lymph nodes, also called lymph glands, play a vital role in your body’s ability to fight off infections. They function as filters, trapping viruses, bacteria, and other causes of illnesses before they can infect other parts of your body. Common areas where you might notice swollen lymph nodes include your neck, under your chin, in your armpits, and in your groin.
In some cases, the passage of time and warm compresses may be all you need to treat swollen lymph nodes. If an infection causes swollen lymph nodes, treatment depends on the cause.
Considerations
Common areas where the lymph nodes can be felt (with the fingers) include:
- Groin
- Armpit
- Neck (there is a chain of lymph nodes on either side of the front of the neck, both sides of the neck, and
- down each side of the back of the neck)
- Under the jaw and chin
- Behind the ears
- On the back of the head
The Causes of Swollen Lymph Nodes
There are several causes of swollen lymph nodes. For the most part, your lymph nodes tend to swell as a standard response to infection. They may also swell due to stress. Some of the most common illnesses associated with swollen lymph nodes include colds, ear infections, the flu, tonsillitis, skin infections, or glandular fever. In some cases, however, the underlying cause of swollen lymph nodes may be much more serious. They may be caused by some types of cancer (lymphoma), rheumatoid arthritis, HIV, measles, Hodgkin’s disease, tuberculosis, lupus, syphilis, etc.
Some anti-seizure and anti-malarial drugs may also be responsible.
The Symptoms of Swollen Lymph Nodes
Swollen lymph nodes are usually detected through physical examination. They feel like soft, circular bumps. You can gently press areas like the side of your neck to see if there is swelling. Some people experience tenderness in their lymph nodes and may experience pain when they are chewing food or when they turn their necks in a certain direction. Swollen lymph nodes in the groin area may cause pain when you walk or bend.
You should consider visiting a physician if the swelling has not reduced after a few weeks or has increased if the lymph nodes feel hard when you press them, if you have difficulty swallowing or breathing, and if you have a sore throat. Swollen lymph nodes accompanied by weight loss (if you are not dieting), and a persistent fever is also a source of concern.
Home Care
Painful lymph nodes are generally a sign that your body is fighting an infection. The soreness usually goes away in a couple of days, without treatment. The lymph node may not return to its normal size for several weeks.
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When to see a doctor
If the lump is problematic, causing you pain or discomfort, or associated with other symptoms, make an appointment with your doctor. You can connect to a physician in your area using the Healthline FindCare tool. A quick physical inspection of the area and a general checkup can usually help your doctor figure out exactly what is happening behind your ear.
Based on what your doctor finds, they may suggest leaving the lump to resolve on its own, or any number of treatments, from medication to surgery.
Lumps behind the ear usually aren’t harmful. Together with your doctor, you can find the best way to eliminate the lump and prevent future problems.
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