When a bump or lump appears on the back, it can be due to any of several different causes, so the best thing to do is to see your family doctor to have it checked out. Your doctor will evaluate the bump based on examination and your medical history. The doctor will order additional tests if needed, and, if necessary, will refer you to a specialist.
Some possible causes of a bump on the back can be:
1. Sebaceous cysts.
These grow under the skin and are filled with keratin. Although in most cases they are benign, they may need to be drained or even removed if they cause discomfort.
2. Lipomas.
A lipoma is a lump of fatty tissue that grows under the skin. They are also usually benign.
3. Abscesses or boils.
When these appear on the back they are usually caused by a bacterial infection.
4. Injuries to muscles or bones.
A bump or lump may appear due to trauma, fracture, or injury.
5. Caused by skin diseases.
The problems described below do not directly cause lumps on the back, but can cause muscles to contract due to pain, resulting in a raised area that can be felt by touch.
6. You might have a lump due to a disc herniation when the intervertebral disc has moved out of place.
7. Vertebral tumors.
Tumors that form in the bones or vertebrae of the spine.
Tumors of the spine and vertebrae
There are different types of spinal tumors and they affect the spine in different ways. The most frequent of these tumors can be of three kinds:
Benign tumors.
These include osteomas, osteoblastomas, hemangiomas, and neurofibromas. They are usually slow-growing and do not affect other parts of the body. Their consequences for the patient may include localized pain, muscle weakness or compression of the surrounding nerve structures.
Malignant tumors.
These include chondrosarcoma, chordoma, osteosarcoma, plasmacytoma, multiple myeloma, and Ewing's sarcoma. These tumors are more aggressive and can spread. This can cause severe pain, muscle weakness, and can compress the spinal cord causing neurological problems.
Metastatic.
These are malignant tumors that originated in other parts of the body and have spread (metastasized) to the spine. The most common are metastases from cancers such as prostate, lung, breast, leukemia, myeloma, or lymphoma. They cause severe bone pain, weakness, loss of feeling, and other neurological symptoms that will depend on which part of the spinal cord is affected.
Metastatic tumors are much more common than primary tumors and, in the case of the latter, we do not know exactly what causes them, although it is more common for them to appear in people who have already had another type of cancer. If it is necessary to operate on this type of tumor, the surgery should be performed by an expert neurosurgeon.
Dr. Ignasi Catalá
Neurosurgeon and Medical Director, Instituto Clavel
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