What organ is directly below the sternum?
Thymus cancers are rare. The thymus is a small organ located just behind the breast bone (sternum) in the front part of the chest.04-Oct-2017
What is the lump at the bottom of my rib cage?
The most common reason for a lump forming on the ribs is something known as a lipoma, which is a collection of fatty tissue. This type of lump can lie beneath the surface of the skin covering a rib. They are usually painless, freely mobile under your fingers and stay the same over time.
Why do I have a bump on my lower chest?
A chest lump or bump is most commonly caused by an allergic reaction which typically look like red bumps on the chest, or a skin condition like a pimple, boil, cyst, or wart. Unusual growths on the chest are nearly non-cancerous, however a painful lump on the chest should be treated by a medical provider.
What does a tumor on sternum feel like?
Pain or soreness. Swelling. Impaired movement or chest expansion. Protrusion as with a lump.
What is the Xiphoid?
Excerpt. The xiphoid process is the most distal edge of the sternum or the breastbone. The sternum contains 3 major portions: the manubrium, the body, and the xiphoid process. Its name comes from the Greek word "xiphos," which means straight sword.25-Jul-2021
Does xiphoid process feel like lump?
Xiphoid Process - Normal Lump at Bottom of Breastbone: The small hard lump at the lower end of the sternum (breastbone) is normal. It is called the xiphoid process. You can feel it. It is more prominent in babies and slender children.
Should there be a lump in the middle of my chest?
Benign lumps are usually soft and movable, while cancerous lumps tend to be hard and immovable. If you have a new lump on your chest, it's a good idea to see a doctor, especially if accompanied by: swelling.06-Dec-2019
What does it mean when you have a lump in the middle of your chest?
A painless lump on the chest can most commonly be caused by a skin condition like an abscess, wart, or cysts. Rare causes for a painless chest wall lump include non cancerous cell growth known as lipoma, dermatofibroma, or breast cancer.
What does a lump in the middle of your chest mean?
Chest lumps can be caused by any number of conditions, including infections, inflammation, tumors or trauma. Depending on the cause, chest lumps may be single or multiple, soft or firm, painful or painless. They may grow rapidly or may not change in size.
What is a sternal mass?
Primary malignant tumors of the sternum generally fall into two categories: solid tumors, which include primary bony or cartilaginous tumors and soft tissue sarcomas, and small cell tumors, which are usually systemic but may present as a localized sternal mass.
Are lipomas hard?
Lipomas move easily when you touch them and feel rubbery, not hard. Most lipomas aren't painful and don't cause health problems so they rarely need treatment.
What causes swelling in lymph nodes?
Because many factors can cause swelling in the lymph nodes, a person should also look out for other symptoms, including: 1 fever 2 night sweats 3 itching skin 4 fatigue 5 unexplained weight loss.
What does it mean when you have a lump in your chest?
A lump in the chest, whether in the breast, near the sternum, or elsewhere on the rib cage, is a common symptom of many different conditions. It is natural for a person to have concerns if they find a lump. Generally, a cancerous lump in the breast will feel hard and angular, while a benign cyst or abscess will feel round and smooth.
How big is a lump on the skin?
They are not serious and occur most commonly in females between the ages of 20–39 years. The lump can be tiny or grow up to several inches across. They are smooth, similar to marbles, with round borders. The lumps are rubbery but not painful, and they move around under the skin if a person pushes on them.
Where are lumps in the chest?
This article reviews common conditions that cause lumps in the chest. Lumps can occur in three main areas: within the breast tissue. on the chest. below the sternum.
Is it painful to have a lump in your breast?
Breast cancer may be the first place a person’s mind goes to when they discover a lump. A cancerous lump in the breast tends to be irregular, solid, and not painful, but it is difficult to assess. A person should talk with a doctor if they feel a change in their normal breast tissue.
What is the term for a bulge in the gut?
Epigastric hernia. A hernia is when an organ pushes through the muscles and tissues that hold it in place, causing it to protrude into a lump. An epigastric hernia occurs just below the sternum. The bulge usually consists of fatty tissue, but the gut can also cause protrusions.
Is a cyst in the breast cancerous?
Breast cyst. A breast cyst is a fluid-filled, closed sac, which is common in breast tissue and usually not cancerous. Cysts can feel either soft or hard but are usually large and smooth on the outside. In breasts, cysts can feel similar to hard lumps due to the surrounding tissue covering them.
What to do if you think you have a medical emergency?
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately. Doctors Lounge (www.doctorslounge.com) does not recommend or endorse any specific tests, physicians, products, procedures, opinions, or other information that may be mentioned on the Site.
Where is the xiphoid process located?
The xiphoid process is the small bone at the bottom of the breast bone. In some people it can be pointed somewhat outward rather than straight down. Given your weight loss it may be more prominent now.
Is a hernia a weakness in the abdominal muscles?
There may be a weak spot in the abdominal muscles that is allowing the intestines to slip through. Usually, though, these are not totally hard (although they can be). It would not be a hiatal hernia. This hernia is when the intestines slip through the diaphragm into the chest.
Can crunches cause a hernia?
Doing crunches increases the pressure in the abdomen. If there was a weak spot in the abdominal muscle, the increased pressure may have been enough to push the intestines through the weakened area causing the hernia. The CT scan should be quite helpful.
