What Could Be the Reason of Lump Under the Chin?
Q: I’m 24 years old female. I have a hard lump directly under my chin, not in my throat. I have had an itchy throat and have always has a lot of phlegm. I noticed the lump three days ago. My sister has had two benign tumors removed from her throat in the last 3 years. I don’t know if this is important information but I thought it would be helpful. I don’t have any other symptoms besides scratchy throat phlegm and hard lump. The lump does not hurt. Do you think this is just an infection or should I take it more seriously?
By: Amanda
Reply:
This is the location of the submental group of lymph nodes. Looks like an enlarged lymph node there.
Swollen Lymph Node
The commonest cause of having such lymph nodes is any chronic (persistent) infection.
Our face and neck region has a lot of blood and lymph supply. So, any source of infection in or around this area may lead to the enlargement of these lymph nodes.
These causes would include:
- Tooth decay
- Swollen/ infected gums
- Throat infection
- Sinusitis
- Viral infections like, mononucleosis, Epstein-Barr virus and cytomegalovirus in the past.
- Any autoimmune pathology in the body, like lupus or rheumatoid arthritis. Here, other symptoms suggestive of these conditions would also be present.
It would be advisable to first rule out any of these infections as the source of lymph node enlargement.
Signs and Symptoms
If you have an enlarged lymph node under your chin, you’re likely to be having some of the signs listed below.
- Present or recent infection in the throat, oral cavity or nearby area
- A swollen gland, that’s usually painful to touch
- The lump is soft to firm to touch
- Lump is movable
- It may be a single smooth lump or more than one in number
- Referred pain in the ear may be there
- Mild fever or sick feel
Recognizing Tumorous Lymph Nodes
Tumor glands would become hard with time and get somewhat attached to the underlying structures. If you try to move them, the movement would be restricted.
They are usually not painful. Other symptoms suggesting malignancy may accompany. These include, loss of weight, loss of appetite, extreme fatigue, frequent spells of illness, mood depressions etc.
Malignancy in the lymph node is secondary to some primary cancer present elsewhere. So, if you have a malignant node, the primary site needs to be investigated at the earliest. Read in details about such lumps.
Other Causes may include the following.
Salivary Gland Stone
Submental salivary glands are located just below our chin. It’s common to get a stone there.
A stone in the gland can be felt as a hard node, which is usually movable. It’s gritty, smooth or slightly irregular when felt. You may be able to hold it between your two fingers. It may or may not grow in size with time.
Usually, no intervention is required. The stone remains as such or may decrease in size with time.
Sebaceous cyst
These may occur any where over the skin. Region under the chin is a common place for its occurrence. A sebaceous cyst is formed when any of the duct draining skin glands gets blocked.
- Such swellings are located over the surface of the skin. They are soft to firm and not painful, unless infected.
- These cysts are filled with a yellowish white pasty stuff, called sebum.
- A sebaceous cyst may stay as such and gradually regress with time. Or, it may grow in size.
- In cases where it grows in size or gets infected, it needs to be removed.
Pulled Neck Muscle
A swelled portion of the neck muscle may present as a small lump there. When palpated, the feel is firm and tough, like that of the muscle.
You may have difficulty moving the neck. Movements become restricted. The lump is localized to one side, and the patient is usually able to associate some injury or rash movement with it.
Take Care,
Buddy M.D.
Hello, 2 nights ago I noticed that it felt sore above my front tooth when I brushed my teeth before bed. I didn’t really think anything of it until I brushed my teeth again yesterday morning. I looked closely in the mirror and I could see a little cut in my gums along with a bunch of tiny little puncture type cuts. I am assuming it’s from my toothbrush bristles. I didn’t brush my teeth any more yesterday but I rinsed my mouth out with peroxil instead. When I woke up this morning the palate behind my two front teeth on top feels really swollen. My gums are puffy in the front around my front teeth and my teeth feel sore when I bite down. Is this normal with a healing oral wound?
please help
It’s better to visit a dentist. This does not sound like a normal oral wound, may be some infection.
I’m 33yrs old. My head feels so heavy and dizzy everyday, sometimes I feel like I am going to lose consciousness and feel so weak, my throat gets dry when I take a deep breath and there a sticky saliva in my throat that won’t go away there is pressure on my sinus also. I also feel pain on the left back side of my ear sometimes and hear high frequency sound. My ear hurts also when I hear loud sounds. I have no appetite and difficult to swallow sometimes food got stuck on my throat. Feel like this for more than a month now and I think it’s getting worst. Having check up every week for a month now but I’m not getting better. Last month, I also have numbness/cramp that start in my left stomach numbness spread to the right stomach all the way to my hands, throat and at the back of my neck.
You need to go to an ENT for thorough check up. There may be some chronic allergic or infective process going on in your sinuses. This requires evaluation.
Meanwhile, drinking plenty of water would help. Read in detail on the causes and management of thick saliva.
I have a swelling under my chin which feels hard and becomes painful once a while followed by fever. What might be the cause?
I have been having this swelling for almost 13 years.
These may be swollen lymph nodes. Like some people have a tendency to get swollen tonsils, your submental (under the chin) lymph nodes may be swollen.
They swell up whenever they catch an infective germ. As the infection weans off, they may regress in size.
Can that be the reason why I spit blood like saliva every morning when I wake up?
Yes, very likely to be.
Apart from this, just check up if there’s any decaying tooth/ infected tooth in your mouth. That can also be a source of bloody sputum.
is very small but alarm my self and I have chronic Bronkite.i wonder if I should go to a doctor.
Chronic bronchitis is usually allergic, however, infections may come off and on when seasons change. The swollen gland may be attributed to it.
I have lump under my chin I experience joint and mucsle aches in different places of body.I noticed this lump after experiencing an itchy throat,after the cold stopped the lump is still there and I still experience slight muscle aches.
What could this be,could someone help
The commonest cause of having a swollen lymph node there is any infection in the throat, present or past. However, if your throat gets well and the node still persists to be there or grows in size, you need to be checked up.
Your doctor would carry out some blood work to detect the cause.
I have a small bump underneath my chin and it’s a little sore when I touch it. It feels hard and other than being sore to the touch, it’s doesn’t bother me. I’m 28 and I smoke. Also, my cigarettes have been making me gag sometimes when i take a drag, i think thats just the chemicaly taste but im not sure. Any ideas what it might be?
It could be a swollen gland that has hardened or else a stone in your salivary gland. Needs to be examined for diagnosis.
Smoking makes you prone to malignancies. So, it’s better to get this examined by a doctor.
My name is Amarion I am 12 years old and I have a small bump under my chin and it doesn’t bother me it doesnt hurt I don’t smoke I just want to know what is happening and will it go away after a short period of time or will I grow out of it
Is it hard, soft or firm? Is it movable?
I’m 13 years found a lump under my jawline it moves, little pain when move found it yesterday also I have been coughing lately Ever since I got a sinus infection about 2 weaks ago
This is very likely to be a lymph node under your jaw line. It would regress on its own with time, as the sinus infection get alright.
i hv a lump at my chin for three months its had and painless what can be the couse and tretment?
Is it hard or soft? How big?
My son, Roby, has a lump under his chin and one on the right side of this back, I’m very worried what it could be what should we do?
Needs to be checked up for diagnosis.
He did not get hurt or anything. The lumps are hard and the skin around it is soft. They have only been there for about 6 days. Should I be concerned? Well, I am very worried about it so I’m going to take him to the doctors tomorrow. How can they tell what they are if I take him to the ER? Will I know before we leave the ER?
Better to get checked up. It’s likely that you would be referred to some other doctor from the ER for diagnosis.
I have one lump on each side (bilateral) just under the jaw. They are not fixed, can compress and move them about. This is a persistent situation (they’ve been bigger/smaller for almost a year now). Both lumps are about the same size. Are these a cause for concern?
Unlikely to be cancerous or any thing serious.
These are likely to be swollen glands. You get it after having some infection in that area, like sore throat, etc.
I have a lump in center of chin. It is hard and painful. I also have sore throat. I had burning sensation in my head before two weeks of lump. And my body weight gets increasing what may be reason?
You need to go to a doctor for full evaluated.
Your thyroid profile needs to be done. The lump may be a hardened lymph node or a stone in your salivary gland.
Thank you!
You are welcome.
Do keep us informed about the diagnosis.
I have a small hard lump under my chin. It hurts for a few seconds every now and again. I went to the doctor 6 months ago and they said it was just a swollen gland. Since then, it has gotten a little smaller but has not completely disappeared. Now there are 2 of them.
Are they movable? If not, let us know.
Glands may take months to disappear. You get them more often if you suffer from sore throat.
No, they are not movable.
Needs to be examined by a doctor at the earliest for diagnosis.
When I went earlier this year (February) it was diagnosed as lymphadenopathy. So I should go back?
Lymph glands are usually mobile. Since these are not, they look suspicious.
I have a medium size lump slightly left of my chin, it does not hurt, it is soft but very red and warm, and very noticeable. I have no other symptoms. The doctor I have seen believe’s it to be an ingrown hair, but when checking I cannot see any hair, and there is no head (i.e no pus) I have had it about 2 1/2 weeks now. I am not bothered by it until someone points it out. Could it be something else?
Well, this needs to be examined for diagnosis.
An ingrown hair is located on the surface, that is the skin. If it’s deeper, it may be a lymph node.
Ingrown hair may not be visible. It may be deep inside.
Since it is warm to touch, the lump is likely to be infected. You may need antibiotics for this.
I quit smoking for 1month. I see a soft movable lump below my chin. It’s not paining it’s soft and movable. Is it cancer. I am not loosing weight maintaining steady weight profile. Is it cancer.
Very unlikely to be cancer.
However, since you’ve been a smoker, it’s better to go for a thorough oral examination to see for any growth or other signs of cancer there.
I been to a dentist 1 month back on visual inspection she said no sign of cancer. But off late I am having lots of heat boils everywhere in my body and mouth which decreases with b complex tablets. Please give guidance.
The lump under your chin is very unlikely to be a sign of cancer.
I have 2 hard non-movable lumps about 1 inch below my jawline in the center of my neck/throat. It is painless, have not had any other symptoms. The two bumps are right next to each other.
Likely to be stones in your salivary gland.
However, it’s advisable to see a ENT for diagnosis.
There is lump in both sides under the jawline ..both r movable and soft but i fell them since last 8 mnths ..they r not painfull ..but whenever i fell sore throat and hve cold &cough .. it feels bigger in size ..so r they lymph glands …? Or anything serious..
Very likely to be swollen lymph nodes.
I discovered a small lump unmovable directly under the chin. What it can be? I dont have pains in the throat. thanks.
May be a salivary gland stone or hardened lymph node.
Even if you have no symptoms, it’s better to check with an ENT and get it diagnosed.
My boyfriend has a small bump under his chin. I just noticed it one day ago I don’t think it’s warm and you can’t see it I found it by feeling of his throat. Feels like its directly in the middle maybe slightly more to his right. he is 24 non smoker and no symptoms, seems very healthy. Doesn’t affect anything or his appetite, he wants to eat all the time actually. He just had his check up a month ago and blood work and everything was good. He had a ear pain/earache that lasted around a day not long ago and he has tonsil stones, also he bit his jaw/gum twice lately. I don’t know if that has anything to do with it. Its also probably only 1-2 cm big and doesn’t hurt. Im not sure if its movable or not. He is skinny 6’0 and only weighs 185 so im also not sure if we are just feeling a bone or lymph nodes or glands. Any help would be great thank you
Is it hard, firm or soft to touch? Does it have a smooth boundary or is it irregular?
It’s hard. I guess it has a smooth boundary? I think its his bone. I have one to in the same spot and on the same side (right side) but you can feel his a lot more but I weigh more and have a fatty neck. So I guess that’s why. And it moves when he swallows like the hyoid bone.
Unlikely to be any thing serious.
Appears to be his bone, or else may a salivary gland stone. Needs to be examined for exact diagnosis.
If it was a salivary stone wouldn’t it cause pain or some symptoms? And how does he get rid of it
Need to be examined for confirming the diagnosis.
If it’s a stone, no medicine required. Stones stay symptom less till the become big enough to block the duct draining the salivary gland.
Your doctor may suggest you activities that increase saliva production, like sucking a hard candy etc. This would produce more of saliva giving a chance to the stone to get flushed out.
If it is a stone, where will it go when it gets flushed out? It will just disappear? And its hard and does not move or hurt.
Also its about a inch and a half back from the tip of his chin.
Well now it feels as if its gone down some. I’m starting to think its a swollen lymph node. Since he had ear pain and then pressure in his ear (like a earache). I also think It doesn’t feel as hard. Do you think its a stone that’s going away (he’s been drinking a lot of water sucking hard lemon candy’s and massaged it) or a lymph node?
Difficult to comment without actual examination.
Since it’s regressing fast, it’s more likely to be a lymph node.
I have a lump slightly bigger than pee size and it is under my chin slightly to the left side. Its not solid but its not soft and is movable if i try push it around. It hurts slightly when I push on it. I had the flu a week or two ago and its been two weeks I thinks its got slightly smaller but im starting to worry.
I should also note that after my flu had gone i still had a fair bit of phlegm for about 4 days after
This one is very likely to be an enlarged lymph node. Doesn’t sound worrisome.
Could have enlarged as a sequel to your throat infection. Give it time to regress gradually by itself.
Hi it’s been a month since I notice something under my chin it’s like a cyst now it’s a bit bigger what can I do to prevent this it’s not pain at all and it doesn’t move also
See an ENT at the earliest. Requires a physical exam for diagnosis.
I have this small lump on the right underside of my jawline it is non-moveable, hard and painful to touch, I have previously had inflamed lymph nodes but they have been gone for a while, I have not been sick lately either
Needs to be examined at the earliest for diagnosis. Any recent problem, like , weight loss, fatigue, etc.
Likely to be lymph nodes again.
I can’t find anymore as last time there were many, when I move my head to far up or down it hurts, not any problems I have noticed
Since they hurt, likely to be some infection. Advised to see an ENT.
Another has popped up and is 3 times bigger and hurts when ever I move my head, I will get it checked out soon, if it gets any worst
Do you have any active infection in your head or neck area, may be, sore throat, infected tooth, cough, sneezes, allergy etc.?
I HAD COLD AND SOAR THROAT SINCE A WEEK NOW….5 DAYS BACK I NOTICED A LUMP JUST UNDER MY CHIN… IT IS HARD AND MOVEMENT IS RESTRICTED .. I STILL HAVE SOAR THROAT…. DO I NEED TO WORRY?
Does the lump pain on touch or moving?
I AM FEELING A LITTLE PAIN.. AND YES IT MOVES… BUT NOT THAT MUCH… BUT IS IS FIRM….
I HAD ALREADY DONE M BLOOD TEST ON SATURDAY. BUT ALL REPORTS ARE NORMAL… BUT ITS 5 DAYS SINCE THEN AND THE SIZE OF THE LYMPH IS STILL THE SAME
I have had a bump on the bottom of my chin for quite a while. It’s hard and I can move it, but then it goes back to its normal place. It doesn’t hurt at all and i don’t notice it, but I’m just wondering why there’s is a bump there. I’m 15 years old.
If it’s considerably hard, may be a stone in your submental group of salivary gland.
Needs to be examined for diagnosis.
On the outside under my chin it is soar. There’s no lump just soar. Should i see a Doctor? No soar throat all on the outside.
Is the skin under your chin red, itchy or painful?
Just painful
May be you got hurt there unknowingly. Doesn’t sound serious. You may wait for a few days. Your symptoms are likely to subside on their own.
I have had a lot of sinus drainage for about a week.Slightly Scratchy throat Ears feel full No fever Developed a cold sore on bottom left lip right at border of the lip 4 days ago. Yesterday I went to rest my chin in my hand and it felt painful. There seems to be a firm lump right under the edge of my chin. It is painful to touch. Doesn’t seem moveable. It seems a little larger than when I first felt it. It’s Easter so my family doctor isn’t seeing patients. Wondering what this is and what I should do
I also notice I wake up at night with an extremely dry mouth. This occurs frequently. I think because of a med I take (Vesicare)
Likely to be an inflamed lymph node. It commonly appears in cases of prolonged infections. This is likely to regress on its own as your infection subsides.
You need to drink plenty of water throughout the day. Sinus infections produce a lot of mucous, and so, are dehydrating for the body.
I have a lump under the chin area. It pains alot and sometimes I feel difficult to breath as well. I have to take nebuliser for that. First I had cold then my tonsils swelled up after all this the neck area under my chin is swollen as well. I can feel something is their which is movable and pains alot.
These are very likely to be swollen lymph nodes that you feel as a painful lump. They commonly get inflamed when your throat area suffers form any allergic or infectious process.
Exact diagnosis requires a physical exam. If you’re carrying an active infection in your throat, have fever or phlegm, antibiotics may be needed.
I have a softball size lump under my chin and I have not slept on my back in over 10+ years. It is starting to hurt and the veins on the sides of my neck( under my jawline) are starting to hurt. It is hard like a baseball and throat cancer runs in my family. Do I need a doctors opinion or just live with it? Is an ENT good for this or another specialist?
I have a lump which is sore to the touch under my chin My gums are red and feel raw/burnt and my gums bleed when I brush my teeth. I am 40 and smoke. What can I do to treat this?
You need to see an ENT for exact diagnosis. This may be a nutritional deficiency, may be vitamin C, coupled with some oral infection.
Hello Doctor,
I am 25yrs old. Female. Just 3 months back, I noticed 2 hard lumps in the area between my chin and throat. One is an inch away from the jawline and the other on the right side. I consulted a physician 3 months back. Got the blood test done. Everything was normal apart from the fact that I had high esonophils and my thyroid just nearing the upper limit. The lump is hard to touch. Doesn’t move. No pain. It has a regular surface, just like a small , round, hardened stone. I think I have some infection because I sneeze frequently & also get mild headaches sometimes. Sometimes when I touch I feel the size has increased to a certain size , lets say 1mm, some other time during the same day I feel the size has decreased below 1mm but overall in the 3 months the size doesn’t seem to increase beyond a the 1mm standard. What could it be? Should I consult another physician ?
Thank you.
Sounds like a stone in your salivary gland. Or may be a hardened lymph node.
A stone would show up in an Xray.
Hello Buddy M.D.
Maybe had this lump for 3-4 eeks now under neck… will see doctor still next week.
It is hard, doesn’t move… but how it started was random, I just felt them one evening… I believe it was after I was picking at a zit at the edge of a stictch I had got while skateboarding when young. I picked at this zit near the stitch and within a few days had made two big lymphs under my chin… I was kinda prodding at it, one has disappeared and left a little bump, however the other one is at full force where I constantly feel it. Can this be popped? I want to be patient with it and see if it ruptures within the week, if not, imma talk to local doctor and see if he wants me to see a dermatologist.
Also had some strain on right side of neck, that kinda made my ear pulse when I put my chin up high. I believe that one is going down.. I=still this one under my chin is a bit worrysome… I have faith it will go away… its about an inch long.. maybe 2 centimetres is the part it sticks out… pulling at my chin skin.
It’s all new to me and my mom and girlfriend keep saying go to doctor…. It also may have started as I used a bad razor and had an influx of ingrown hairs on my face for using a 2 month old razor.
from Toronto, Ontario..
Thanks!
This is likely to be a hardened lymph node, as you understand. However, you may need to take antibiotics for it.
There’s no way be pop it or drain it. Antibiotics are given to resolve the infection inside such nodes, so that they regress in size to finally disappear.
My left side of my jaw is numb an part of my bottom lip i feel a small bump right above my jaw line its hard an it wont move
Needs to be checked up physically by a doctor for diagnosis.
Do update us about it.
Hello I’ve suffered of facial jaw and teeth pain all this in my bottom left side. Seen dentist, tmj, and neurologist they all don’t see anything wrong. I’ve also felt a lump inside mouth in between cheek and gums. I decided to massage it and it either dissolved or when down in size. It was a hard lump but when I started massaging it it felt movable less hard. I don’t see swollen cheek but I had the feeling of swollen cheek. I massaged the lump through the inside of my mouth I don’t feel it through the outside.
Is the lump on the lower left side? How big is it?
I have a lump undet my chin it’s like an adam’s apple but at my chin, can you help, I noticed it a week ago or so.
Does it pain? Is it movable, is it firm or hard to touch, any pain when you move it? Feel it to see if it’s just under the skin or appears to be deeper inside.