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):

Valley Fever (Coccidioidomycosis)
Sarcoidosis
HIV/AIDS
Vasectomy Side-Effects
Infectious Mononucleosis
Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma
Chronic Fatigue-Fibromyalgia
Enlarged Lymph Nodes

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:

frequent 'chills'

multiple painful inguinal nodes

painful cervical nodes

having foamy urine

long-term hoarse voice

history of adult allergies

swollen cervical nodes

rapid pulse rate

seizures

minor pain in cold/cool/damp weather

increased sensitivity to touch

frequent confusion/disorientation

... and more than 110 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
HIV/AIDS	99%	Confirm
Enlarged Lymph Nodes	29%	Unlikely
Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma	17%	Unlikely
Infectious Mononucleosis	2%	Ruled out
Sarcoidosis	1%	Ruled out
Vasectomy Side-Effects	0%	Ruled out
Chronic Fatigue-Fibromyalgia	0%	Ruled out
Valley Fever (Coccidioidomycosis)	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:

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

Valley Fever (Coccidioidomycosis)

Concerned or curious about your health? Try The Analyst™