You asked
I've had a lump in my neck for years and I keep being told it's nothing. What should I do?
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A child with a lump in his neck .. what I consider before the biopsyHearing Spanish on YouTube? Tap ⚙ › Audio track › English
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Ask what they found to call it nothing, and which changes would mean another look. In adults, a lump lasting two weeks or more with no infection to explain it needs more care. It also matters if it is firm, fixed in place or over 1.5 cm, and your doctor puts those pieces together.
Why can a lymph node stay swollen so long after the infection is gone?
A node that fought an infection can stay enlarged for a while, even months. After tuberculosis, a node can be left scarred or calcified, and that one doesn't go away. If it grows again, hardens or sticks to the tissue around it, tell your doctor.
What if I have lumps on both sides of my neck, or in my armpits too?
In kids, lumps on both sides of the neck usually mean infection. Two or more areas often mean a body-wide cause. It can be infection, autoimmune disease, medicines or lymphoma, among others. Nodes count more if hard or fixed, over 1.5 cm in adults or 2 cm in kids, or with fever or weight loss. Your doctor decides.
What tests should I ask for if the lump is still there and I've only had blood work?
Ask to be seen by an internist or a head and neck surgeon. If cancer risk is higher, the ENT guideline uses a CT or MRI scan. For a sample, it prefers fine-needle aspiration over an open biopsy. Blood work is one piece, and the doctor who examines you decides what else is needed.
Illustration: OpenStax, Anatomy & Physiology · CC BY 3.0. Editorial adaptation: labels and arrows were removed and the neck anatomy was isolated without changing anatomical relationships.
Where this comes from
- American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Foundation (AAO-HNSF), clinical practice guideline: Evaluation of the Neck Mass in Adults (2017): accessed 2026-10-22
- American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Foundation (AAO-HNSF), executive summary of the Neck Mass in Adults guideline: accessed 2026-10-22
- American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), American Family Physician 2025: accessed 2026-10-22
- American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), American Family Physician 2016 (Gaddey and Riegel): accessed 2026-10-22
- Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne (clinical guideline): accessed 2026-10-22
- American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org): accessed 2026-10-22
- Nationwide Children's Hospital: accessed 2026-10-22
- The Hospital for Sick Children (AboutKidsHealth): accessed 2026-10-22
This is educational content, meant to help you understand your body. It is not a medical consultation or a diagnosis, and it does not tell any particular person what to do. If something worries you, see a doctor you trust.