What is the Cause of Lump Under Armpit?

What Causes Lump Under Armpit?

Lump under armpit can have various causes, ranging in severity from 'troubling' to 'generally fatal'. Finding the true cause means ruling out or confirming each possibility – in other words, diagnosis.

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Diagnosis is usually a complex process due to the sheer number of possible causes and related symptoms. In order to diagnose lump under armpit, we could:

Research the topic
Find a doctor with the time
Use a diagnostic computer system.

The process is the same, whichever method is used.

Step 1: List all Possible Causes

We begin by identifying the disease conditions which have "lump under armpit" as a symptom. Here are eight of many possibilities (more below):

CLL Leukemia
Enlarged Lymph Nodes
Valley Fever (Coccidioidomycosis)
Vasectomy Side-Effects
Lymphatic Congestion
HIV/AIDS
Chronic Fatigue-Fibromyalgia
Breast Cancer

Step 2: Build a Symptom Checklist

We then identify all possible symptoms and risk factors of each possible cause, and check the ones that apply:

resolved atypical recent headaches

difficulty falling asleep

hot flashes during & after period

bloodstained nipple discharge

frequent painful cervical nodes

breast cancer

frequent painful axillary nodes

late birth of first child

temple-based headaches

early puberty onset

painful inguinal nodes

frequent unexplained fevers

... and more than 100 others

Step 3: Rule Out or Confirm each Possible Cause

A differential diagnosis of your symptoms and risk factors finds the likely cause of lump under armpit:

Cause	Probability	Status
Enlarged Lymph Nodes	95%	Confirm
HIV/AIDS	18%	Unlikely
CLL Leukemia	14%	Unlikely
Valley Fever (Coccidioidomycosis)	4%	Ruled out
Lymphatic Congestion	4%	Ruled out
Vasectomy Side-Effects	0%	Ruled out
Breast Cancer	0%	Ruled out
Chronic Fatigue-Fibromyalgia	0%	Ruled out

* This is a simple example to illustrate the process

Arriving at a Correct Diagnosis

The Analyst™ is our online diagnosis tool that learns all about you through a straightforward process of multi-level questioning, providing diagnosis at the end.

If you indicate recent swollen/painful lymph nodes, The Analyst™ will ask further questions including this one:

UNDER ARMPITS: Do you have any swollen lymph nodes here?

Possible responses:

→ Don't know
→ No
→ Often, but not right now
→ 1-2 lymph nodes swollen
→ 3 or more nodes swollen

Based on your response to this question, which may indicate no axillary node swelling, frequent swollen axillary nodes, swollen axillary nodes or multiple swollen axillary nodes, The Analyst™ will consider possibilities such as:

Breast Cancer

A breast self-examination should always include the armpit because breast cancer can enlarge the armpit lymph nodes even when the breast itself seems perfectly normal.

Chronic Fatigue / Fibromyalgia Syndrome

The lymph nodes that are associated with CFS are small, moveable, not tender and most commonly involve the neck, axillary region or inguinal region.

Enlarged Lymph Nodes

Enlarged Lymph Nodes also suggests the following possibilities:

Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL)

Consequences of Vasectomy

Sarcoidosis

HIV/AIDS

Infectious Mononucleosis - Mono

Lymphatic Congestion

Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma

The most common symptom of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is a painless swelling of the lymph nodes in the neck, underarm, or groin.