Swelling in the legs can develop with endocrine diseases. Often people who are faced with redness and swelling of their legs begin to self-medicate. When you press on such swelling, the hole does not remain.
Legs can become swollen and red for a variety of reasons, but no matter how obvious it may seem to you, you should definitely get medical advice.
Along with swelling in the legs, these pathologies can cause an increase in the size of the heart, liver, and cardiac arrhythmias (most often atrial fibrillation).
The skin over the area of edema is cold and bluish. These symptoms may be accompanied by a distinct dilatation of the saphenous veins and itchy skin. The swelling in the legs itself is more pronounced in the evening, and during the night it decreases.
When the process is advanced, in addition to swelling in the legs, eczema, trophic ulcers, and dermatitis may also occur. There may also be asymmetrical swelling in the ankle area (which can be detected by measuring the circumference of both shins in symmetrical areas with a measuring tape).
Postthrombophlebitic syndrome is typical for women aged 30-60 years. This pathology is characterized by swelling of the legs on the legs, less so on the hips.
Swelling may be accompanied by aching pain in the legs spreading to the groin area, buttocks, and abdominal wall.
Swelling, increased body temperature, and redness will be detected locally.
Edema of the limb occurs when deep lymphatic vessels are involved in the process.
Swelling first appears on one leg, then the second leg is involved in the process. But the asymmetry of the legs in most cases remains. Edema with this pathology goes through 3 stages.
They intensify with prolonged standing, in hot weather, and decrease when lying down. These swellings have a doughy consistency. Swelling in the legs can appear against the background of inflammatory processes in the legs (with erysipelas, cellulitis, abscess), combined with severe symptoms of the underlying disease.
Swelling in the legs can occur as a reaction to bites from insects, snakes, other poisonous animals, or exposure to military irritants. Another cause of swelling in the legs is neurological diseases (a stroke that resulted in paralysis of the lower extremities), poliomyelitis, and syringomyelia.
So, as a result of myxedema, swelling of the subcutaneous tissue (legs, face) appears. They are dense to the touch, the skin above them does not bunch up. Quite often, swelling of the legs (ankles) appears in late pregnancy (after 30 weeks).
In addition to swelling in the legs, there will be changes in urine analysis (increased protein content) and arterial hypertension.
Premenstrual swelling may appear in the area of the feet and legs, and after the cessation of menstruation, it quickly decreases and disappears. After discontinuation of the appropriate medications, the swelling goes away.
If the swelling does not go away (or partially goes away) by morning, and you do not have the opportunity to visit a doctor, you can take a diuretic. Leg disease Hello! My husband is 57 years old, he has cirrhosis of the liver. And then his legs are swollen and on the lower right leg there is redness, itching, small red dots have appeared up to the knee, what are they and how to treat them!
Periodically I received injuries - sprains and subluxations on my right leg, so in the summer in the heat the leg could swell, but the swelling quickly went away.
Moreover, the severe swelling does not go away overnight, there is no pain when moving in the joint... Redness of the skin and the appearance of swelling in this area often indicates the presence of a serious disease. Swelling and redness of the foot is a reason to consult a doctor and undergo a series of diagnostic procedures.
If your legs become very swollen, the reasons for this phenomenon are often quite ordinary, but in some cases it becomes a completely threatening symptom, a sign of one or another disease.
4. A very common cause of leg swelling is venous diseases, for example, varicose veins, thrombophlebitis, phlebothrombosis.
So, if swelling is noticeable on one leg, most likely the cause does not lie in a general disease (lack of albumin due to diseases of the liver, kidneys, heart). 4. Severe swelling, accompanied by pain and redness of the skin, hot to the touch, may be evidence of a leg injury, inflammatory processes, or acute phlebitis.
A week ago, for no apparent reason, my left leg—foot, ankle—swelled. Moderate swelling of the legs may also appear when using certain medications. Swelling of the legs may be associated with impaired lymphatic drainage from the lower extremities at a certain level.
Any tumor on the body causes a lot of concern. However, this is not always a sign of a deadly disease. It is important not to neglect suspicious growths on the skin, but to undergo the necessary diagnostics. Often, benign tumors affect the lower extremities. The development of such formations can be provoked by both disturbances in the formation of soft tissues and bones.
Tumors of the musculoskeletal system manifest themselves in different ways and have only common external signs. The formation of the hip joint deserves special attention.
Manifests itself in the form of acute or chronic osteomyelitis. This disease is caused by the bacteria staphylococcus, streptococcus, and salmonella. Osteomyelitis is an inflammatory process of the hip joint, which also affects bone tissue. Bacteria can infect both external and internal tissues. In case of external tumor formation, the culprit is a leg injury; in case of internal tumor formation, the culprit is viral diseases (sore throat, caries, sinusitis, intestinal infection).
Benign cartilage-forming tumors can also cause hip swelling.
Benign formation of cartilage tissue. Typical for males, starting from 20 years old. They are found on the hip, knee and shoulder area.
Symptoms appear quite late:
Chondroblastoma can only be cured by surgery. To do this, excision of bone and cartilage tissue is performed. Then replacement procedures are carried out.
It can develop from cartilage tissue and accounts for approximately 10% of all cases of hip tumors. In rare cases, it can develop into cancer. It has both a single and multiple character. Typical for patients from 10 to 30 years old.
To make a correct diagnosis, an x-ray examination is performed, where you can see the lesions, the nature of the formations and the localization of the process. In the picture you can see the expanded bone.
To determine the etiology of the formation, a tepanbiopsy is performed to exclude a cyst and chondrosarcoma.
In order to cure chondroma, excision of the tumor and part of the bone is performed, followed by plastic surgery. There may be cases where prosthetics may be required.
A tumor that affects osteochondral tissue. The bone base and cartilage may suffer. It can occur in the hip, spine, and pelvic bones. A rather serious disease, which is manifested by the following symptoms: impaired functionality and the appearance of arthritis.
To begin with, an x-ray is taken. A benign tumor has clear contours in the image and is located on a wide stalk. The surface of the formation has a lumpy structure and heterogeneous composition.
Osteochondroma can only be cured surgically, which is carried out to excise the tumor formation along with part of the healthy tissue. Sometimes bone grafting is used. With multiple lesions, the development of bone and cartilage tissue stops.
It manifests itself as a small formation the size of a pea, which over time begins to increase and grow in volume. It has a soft structure and moves easily during palpation. Thigh lipoma can reach 10 cm and grows into surrounding tissues. It can be located between the muscles or directly under the thickness of the soft tissue. It is the result of the proliferation of fat cells. It also has a popular name - wen. The main symptom of lipoma is dull pain when walking.
In order not to provoke the transformation of a benign tumor into a malignant one, it is necessary to carry out timely diagnosis and treatment. Also, you should not injure the lipoma, as there is a possibility of its enlargement. When a lipoma grows, the process of its removal becomes significantly more complicated.
Before treatment, a histological examination of lipoma tissue is carried out, which makes it possible to determine the origin of the affected areas. Then the necessary therapy is prescribed. The most effective way is surgery. Laser removal of wen is often used.
A clearly defined formation that grows from the muscles. Quite rarely localized in the thigh area. To determine the origin, histology is performed. Rhabdomyoma is a benign soft tissue tumor that can develop into cancer over time. Treatment should be surgical, which involves excision of the affected muscle tissue.
The tumor has a dense structure and is limited to the soft tissues of the thigh. It grows slowly and does not cause functional disorders. To make an accurate diagnosis, a biopsy is performed.
Also one of the types of soft tissue tumors is fibrosarcoma, which is limited to a thin capsule. It is characterized by a high growth rate and grows into surrounding tissues. Subject to surgical removal. However, after some time it may recur. With malignant etiology, metastases often appear.
Treatment can be either radical or partial. If necessary, an autograft is installed.
A vascular formation of soft tissue that grows from muscle tissue. The main symptoms are visible swelling, hip pain and lameness. If the doctor suspects a soft tissue hemangioma, then an x-ray and histological examination are required.
Treatment is carried out using surgical surgery. The process may be complicated by bleeding due to infiltration of tumor cells.
This soft tissue tumor forms on the back of the thigh. It is very painful, as it can affect the area of the sciatic nerve. Pain appears not only in the hip, but along the entire leg. Palpation of soft tissue reveals mobility of the formation. It is located quite deep. Sometimes the limb may become numb.
Treatment is carried out through surgery, which opens the sciatic nerve and excises the tumor within healthy tissue. The nerve remains in place.
If red spots appear on your legs that itch, then this will definitely not go unnoticed, because it is not only visible, but also causes discomfort. And even if there is no itching, the cause of such a symptom should be found out as quickly as possible, since it can be very serious.
What symptoms may occur? Let's list some possible ones:
Red spots on the calves of the legs or on other parts are a symptom that can accompany a wide variety of diseases. Some of them will be listed below.
Some viral diseases may be accompanied by rashes. This happens with rubella, measles, chicken pox and other similar diseases. But, most likely, the rashes will be scattered throughout the body, and not localized on just the legs. In most cases, the body temperature will rise and the general condition will worsen.
But there are also more serious causes, such as syphilis. In the secondary period, which lasts more than 5 years, red spots periodically appear on the calves of the legs. But the rash will spread over almost the entire body and will be bright. In addition, the manifestation can spread to the mucous membranes. In any of the above cases, you should consult a doctor soon, since eliminating the rash is not the most important point of treatment; special therapy will be required.
Allergy is a common disease that has several manifestations. For example, red, scaly patches may appear on the legs. And if the allergen came into contact specifically with these limbs, then the rash will be localized precisely in this area. Allergic reactions most often involve itching and burning. The body temperature usually does not rise, the condition remains normal. The skin often becomes covered with blisters filled with liquid. And sometimes the skin becomes dry, peeling and cracking.
Try to remember what and when you came into contact with. Usually the reaction appears on the first day. For example, you could walk in sandals or sandals on some grass, the pollen of which is a strong allergen.
Treatment of allergies involves limiting contact with potential allergens, taking antihistamines and local treatment with cooling and anti-inflammatory ointments and gels. But therapy is possible only on the recommendation of a doctor.
Fungus (mycosis) is a skin infection caused by fungal bacteria. They can come from the external environment and begin to act actively. The main routes of infection are household (through common personal hygiene items) and contact. For example, if you go to the pool without shoes, you risk getting this disease.
As for the symptoms, red spots appear on the toes, they are very itchy and itchy. Crusts often form, the skin becomes dry, and the nail may peel and turn yellow. The fungus must be treated with special antifungal agents (local for mild cases of the disease or general drugs for serious lesions).
Some diseases associated with impaired blood flow are accompanied by a rash. Red round spots on the legs are not problems with the skin, but burst capillaries passing near the surface of the skin, or blood clots in them. For example, thrombocytopenic purpura has such a manifestation, in which blood clots, hemorrhages and local bleeding occur simultaneously. The spots can be either small or large. They are usually bright red, almost burgundy. The general condition may worsen, but the temperature remains normal. Also, if a spot appears on your leg, as well as swelling, then try to palpate the vein. If it appears swollen, then you are probably dealing with thrombophlebitis, in which the vein walls become inflamed and blood clots form.
If a red spot appears on your leg and it hurts, then it is probably the result of some kind of impact. For example, trousers that were too rough could simply rub the skin (especially the delicate areas between the legs). It could also happen that you accidentally dropped boiling water on your leg, did not attach any importance to it, and then saw a speck (or several). Another reason is chemical exposure. Some aggressive substances and components can have a rather strong effect on the skin and cause redness or rashes. In addition, the rash may well appear in those who shave their legs with a razor (friction causes irritation).
Diabetes mellitus is a disease that affects many tissues, including the skin. The skin may become dry and very rough. Spots and cracks appear, developing in severe cases into trophic ulcers.
Some diseases affecting the skin are accompanied by rashes. The spots may itch, turn red, crack, and the skin becomes dry. There are often no other manifestations, but in severe forms other symptoms may occur (fever, chills, insomnia, increased nervous excitability).
If red itchy spots appear on your legs, then monitor your general condition. You should also remember what you ate, where you were, who or what you came into contact with, and what you did. But even if there are no other manifestations, then seeing a doctor will not only not be unnecessary, but is also required . Some serious diseases (for example, vasculitis or syphilis) are accompanied by a rash without other symptoms for certain periods of time. But the course of the disease can be dangerous and lightning fast.
We can only add that even small spots should not be overlooked. This symptom can be a signal of dangerous and serious diseases. Take care of yourself and your health, consult a doctor on time.
The lower leg consists of muscle tissue, nerve endings and the tibia and fibula. Has a very important motor function. There are both front and back parts. The ankle is attached to the bones of the lower leg in the heel area. Muscles can be divided into three groups:
Pain often occurs in the lower leg, which can be caused by various factors. It begins to appear while walking and intensifies when running. It can often remind you of itself even at rest.
What is the danger of such pain? First of all, pain always signals internal disorders. The main thing is to understand what their etiology is. The first reason is vascular thrombosis, which occurs in people who abuse smoking and alcohol. When the blood circulation rate is insufficient, the level of platelets increases, which provokes blood thickening.
At the most unpredictable moment, peculiar traffic jams can form. This is a sign of cardiovascular disease. It is often said that the calf muscles are responsible for the heart. The more developed they are, the more efficiently and effectively the cardiac system works. A blood clot in the lower leg can break off at any time, blocking the flow of blood. This is instant death.
Also, pain in the lower leg can be caused by various tumors that grow from vascular, muscle and bone tissues. This is a fairly rare occurrence, but can still cause motor dysfunction. The tumor can appear either from above in the soft tissues or grow from the inside. If the muscles are damaged, disturbances in the function of the foot, pain in the heel and deformation of the leg as a whole are possible.
A benign tumor of the lower leg, which is the most common and causes pain. Formed from bone tissue. It develops quite slowly. It never degenerates into cancer and does not form metastases. There are also no cases of germination into other areas of the leg. Osteoma is characterized by a young age - from 5 to 20 years. They may differ in location and structure. Typically located on top of the tibia. In most cases, single foci of inflammation occur.
Benign tumor of the leg - osteoma
If osteoma begins to grow in the ankle, then pain cannot be avoided, as it compresses the blood vessels and nerve endings. Only in such situations is surgical intervention indicated. If the tumor develops closer to the ankle, then the operation is purely cosmetic.
There are two types of osteomas:
The main reasons for the development of osteoma in the lower leg are:
Constant inflammatory processes cause uncontrolled proliferation of bone tissue, which increases in volume and provokes the development of a kind of growth.
Main symptoms of the disease:
As a rule, diagnosis is carried out already at the stage of external signs, since before this the disease is quite difficult to notice. If an uncharacteristic formation occurs on the ankle, then you should consult a doctor immediately to prevent deformation of the affected bone. It will be much more difficult to treat a modified leg. The joint can also be changed.
To make a diagnosis, perform:
Even if osteoma does not cause you discomfort, it is still worth getting diagnosed and treated. First of all, it is necessary to exclude a malignant process. Then it is worth considering the aesthetic side of the issue. If, when walking, you feel pain radiating to the heel and notice an enlargement of the joint, these are the main reasons for the need to see a doctor.
The only effective treatment method is surgery. To do this, complete excision of the tumor is performed or curettage of pathological tissue is performed using a small incision. There is also a modern minimally invasive method for treating osteoma - radiofrequency ablation, which is performed using an endoscopic method. An excellent alternative to external incisions.
The most common soft tissue tumor of the leg is a lipoma. It is localized both in the ankle area and directly on the lower leg. This is the growth of fatty tissue, which occurs as a result of hereditary predisposition or hormonal imbalance.
Since lipoma is a fairly common tumor on the leg, it is worth noting a number of signs that are characteristic of this disease.
Surgery is used to treat wen in the lower leg and ankle. The main thing is to make sure that the formation is benign before the operation. For this purpose, a mandatory histological examination is carried out.
Remember that drug treatment will not help cope with lipoma.
Fibromas are the proliferation of connective and fibrous fibers. It can appear as a result of an injury to the heel, foot, leg, or against the background of an inflammatory process in the joint. As a rule, they develop asymptomatically and do not require special treatment.
Dermatofibromas are absolutely harmless, but they do not look aesthetically pleasing, so you can get rid of them with liquid nitrogen.
In the case of plantar fibromas, a number of methods are relevant:
Swelling and pain in the lower leg area can also provoke inflammation of the joints. The cause of swelling is arthrosis or severe trauma. The ankle joint is located in the ankle area and is the largest joint. Therefore, its defeat will cause severe swelling.
Swelling of the lower leg joints
To treat joints, medications are primarily used. The main goal is to restore full functionality, eliminate pain and relieve swelling. Topical physical procedures that relieve joint tension. Physical therapy is often used. Folk remedies are used. For example, in the old fashioned way, a warm cabbage leaf is placed on top of the swelling overnight. This method is not always effective, but it helps relieve acute inflammation.
An enlarged bunion near the big toe is called hallux valgus. In addition to the cosmetic defect, the change is caused by a joint disease - arthrosis-arthritis. Hallux valgus deformity must be treated; the disease tends to progress and cause pain and discomfort. The legs swell, ache, and may turn red. Women are at risk due to their enduring love for beautiful, but extremely uncomfortable shoes.
Did Salvatore Ferragamo in 1950 think about how his wonderful invention would affect the health of women's feet? The designer is responsible for the modeling of modern high-heeled stiletto shoes. In shoes, legs look simply gorgeous - long and slender, and under the shoes hides the unfortunate secret of fashionistas - unattractive bones. The bulge is not visible in closed shoes, but the accompanying pain and swelling is difficult to ignore.
Many attribute the disease to a hereditary nature. This is often an excuse to avoid wearing your favorite stilettos. It is easier to say that the disease was inherited from your mother and grandmother than to take preventive measures and be more careful about your foot health.
Swelling in the leg near the bone occurs when the inflammatory process begins in the joint. The process becomes a stage of exacerbation of the disease - bursitis (acute inflammation of the mucous membrane of the joint). Swelling near the bone is a “bell” that it’s time to see a doctor. It is possible to relieve the symptom on your own, but it is impossible to cure an already advanced stage of the disease.
In addition to wearing tight shoes with high stiletto heels, there are several known reasons for the appearance of bunions:
A bunion does not appear overnight. The formation is preceded by symptoms, and if you recognize them, you will be able to start treatment on time, without waiting for the bone to grow significantly or swelling to appear.
By paying attention to the symptoms, it is possible to begin treatment and prevention on time. Start wearing comfortable shoes, orthopedic insoles, consult a doctor.
The bones on the feet swell due to bursitis of the big toe joint. Inflammation and swelling of the metatarsophalangeal bursa occurs. If treatment is not started in time, the swelling will spread further down the leg, to the lower leg.
Bursitis of the thumb joint occurs:
Chronic bursitis occurs in people whose work and lifestyle involve increased stress on the joints. A chronic disease develops over several months if acute bursitis, gout and arthritis are not treated. With chronic bursitis of the big toe joint, the bones often swell and hurt.
Edema is the main symptom of the inflammatory process in the joint. Redness of the skin at the site of inflammation and an increase in body temperature develop. How is bunion of the big toe diagnosed:
Treatment of bunion of the big toe:
The appearance of a bunion requires urgent treatment and can become the beginning of first acute, then chronic bursitis. When the finger and bone swell, it is indicated to relieve inflammation and swelling. After the acute inflammation has resolved, it is possible to begin treating the bone. A number of treatment methods are described depending on the stage of the disease:
Prevention is the best treatment, do not forget the simple truth. It is better to prevent a disease than to have a long and painful treatment later.
And most importantly, consult a doctor on time. At an early stage, the disease can be cured without surgery!
Three categories of malignant lesions of the lower extremities can cause swelling in the leg in the area of the knee joint and foot.
A reliable cause for the development of cancerous lesions of the bone structure of the lower extremities has not been established to date. Many scientists believe that an important role in oncology is played by chronic inflammatory processes in the joints of the legs. According to statistical data, the second group of etiological factors consists of metastatic lesions of distant organs and body systems, which can also provoke leg bone cancer. In this case, cancer cells spread along the blood vessels.
Cancerous tumor on the leg
Along with the development of local edema, if a tumor has formed on the leg, patients note frequent attacks of dull pain that cannot be relieved with traditional painkillers. The pain symptom is especially intense at night. These symptoms indicate swelling of the leg joints .
On the part of the skeletal system, there is an increase in bone fragility, which is manifested by frequent pathological fractures without visible external damage.
Further progression of the disease leads to the development of cancerous intoxication of the body in the form of general malaise, persistent low-grade body temperature, decreased ability to work, rapid fatigue and sudden loss of body weight.
The presence of complaints in patients about persistent swelling of the hard tissues of the lower extremities and intense pain attacks indicates a possible tumor of the leg below the knee , which necessitates the need to undergo a specific oncological study.
The patient first undergoes an X-ray examination to determine the existing tumor and its boundaries. After radiography, the patient is examined using computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging. The technique is a layer-by-layer scan of the body, the purpose of which is to study the structure of the tumor. Ultrasound examination of the affected area is necessary to determine the presence of genetically mutated tissue in soft nearby structures.
Establishing a final diagnosis of “leg cancer” is impossible without a biopsy, which is a technique for laboratory analysis of biological material. Cytological and histological examination of an area of pathological tissue allows the doctor to confirm the oncological diagnosis and indicate the type and stage of the disease.
If a leg tumor , treatment of the primary bone tissue lesion is carried out in three consecutive periods, which include:
Since the secondary lesion is a consequence of cancer of a distant organ, local therapy of the leg is carried out strictly in accordance with the general principles of anticancer therapy. Very often, in such cases, the patient is recommended to take a course of hormonal therapy to restore the normal biobalance of the body. The second feature of this treatment is that patients take bisphosphonates, pharmaceuticals to restore the intraosseous structure.
A tumor on the leg, if detected in a timely manner, can be completely cured, thanks to a timely integrated approach to the treatment of oncology of the lower extremities using radiation therapy and cytostatic agents.
Secondary cancers of the leg bone generally result in a poor prognosis, with a postoperative survival rate of approximately 10%. The resulting bone lesion in the secondary type is practically resistant to radiation therapy and chemotherapy.
Excerpts from the chapter of the same name in the book of a famous New York doctor
Professor Axedor Rosenfeld "Symptoms"
Run your hand over your head. Did you find one or more lumps on it that you hadn't noticed before? Do not worry. These are exostoses - harmless growths on the bone. Women often remove them for cosmetic reasons. My beloved aunt had such a bump right in the middle of her forehead, like a horn; he wasn't sick or dangerous, but she decided to get rid of him because she didn't like the way he looked. Now feel under your armpit. You found something hard and painless there. This is serious? It is very possible, especially if you are a woman and have not had a breast x-ray.
Finding a tumor anywhere in the body is scary. But fear is not always justified. In this chapter, you will read about some common tumors and when you should really worry and when you shouldn't. In most cases, however, you should have the lump checked just to put your mind at ease.
Here are some categories of tumors and lumps you should know about.
Lipomas are accumulations of fat that form under the skin in obese people. The bumps are soft and easily roll under your fingers. Leave them alone unless they start to hurt (which sometimes happens if they get too large) or cause cosmetic discomfort.
Fibroids are another type of benign lump that usually feels harder to the touch than fat.
From time to time cancer that has arisen somewhere spreads and lingers under the skin in the form of a lump. In such cases, the overlying skin is pigmented or discolored, and the tumor itself feels firmer and does not move as easily as benign tumors.
Subcutaneous hemorrhage may leave a discolored tumor due to clotted blood. This usually happens after an injury, no matter how trivial it may seem at first. But here's a more common reason, more common than my nurses admit: When a standard needle is pierced into your skin to draw blood for a blood test, the needle makes a tiny hole in the wall of the vein. After the needle is removed and before nature closes the hole, blood continues to ooze from the vein into the surrounding tissue. Depending on the intensity of the leak, a certain amount of blood remains there and after a few days it will look like a tumor. This is more likely to happen if you bleed easily (which will happen if you regularly take aspirin or have been treated with anticoagulants), if the needle used was defective, a microscopic hangnail that made the hole in the vein slightly larger, and of course if the nurse did not immediately find the vein and made more than one hole in it. In any case, these bumps eventually disappear.
A similar complication can occur after an angiogram - when dye is injected into your blood to look at your blood vessels on an x-ray. Any leakage that occurs after such a procedure is more pronounced than with a simple blood draw because the vessel punctured - usually in the groin area - is an artery, not a vein. Arteries bleed more heavily than veins. After the catheter through which the dye was injected is removed, blood leaks from the artery into the tissue of the thigh and lower abdomen. The entire area turns red, black, blue, and yellow (colors change over time) and swells. Most of the blood is absorbed back, but for weeks and sometimes months a dense lump remains. If this happens to you, don't panic. He too will disappear. But if you feel it pulsating , that means the artery is still pumping out blood. Contact your doctor immediately.
Bleeding can also occur in an injured or diseased organ and enlarge it so much that it appears as a lump. A good example is bleeding into the spleen due to some disease. When you feel your stomach, you think you have a tumor.
When fluid ends up in a confined space from which it cannot escape and becomes infected there, an abscess . Most of us have had such ulcers, external and visible (in the gums, in the hair follicles of the skin) or internal and invisible (in the liver, lungs or gall bladder). Depending on the location, such an abscess may be recognized as a tumor that "gives" when you put pressure on it because it contains pus.
You usually don't feel the lymph nodes in the neck, groin, armpit, or behind the elbow unless they are enlarged. These glands act as filters, and anything they capture in their work—viruses, bacteria, and tumor cells—causes them to swell. If you find such a gland, here is a useful clear rule. If it is hard and painless, it probably indicates a malignant process somewhere; if it is tender, moves freely and is soft, it is likely an infection. But remember, the only way you and your doctor can be absolutely sure of the diagnosis is to take a biopsy.
Sometimes a “tumor” is simply the result of altered “geography” of the body: an organ located where you don’t expect it. The best example is in the stomach. I have had many patients and known several doctors who were very concerned when they discovered a “tumor” in the abdomen that turned out to be a perfectly healthy kidney that had “gone south.” Sometimes cancer metastases to healthy tissues of the body can be detected in the form of new lumps. The liver is particularly attractive to the migration of cancer cells. When they spread there, a hard, lumpy (rather than smooth), painless tumor appears in the right upper quadrant of the abdomen. This is bad news.
Some organs of the body are sacs whose contents reach the "outside world" through ducts . When the duct draining one of these organs becomes blocked, the secreted contents flow back and stretch the organ. The result is a “tumor” or swelling. A familiar example is the salivary glands (one on each side of the jaw below the ears). The saliva they produce reaches the mouth through the salivary ducts. When one of these ducts develops a stone or becomes blocked due to infection - as happens with, say, mumps - the face becomes swollen because the gland continues to produce saliva, which has nowhere to go but back!
The same thing, although less noticeable, happens in the tiny glands under the skin that secrete fat. If their small ducts leading to the surface become infected, the secretion goes back, giving a small, painful bump that we call a boil . If it grows to a larger size, then it is an abscess .
The gallbladder stores bile produced in the liver and squeezes it into the intestines, on demand, through the ducts. If these bile ducts are chronically blocked (usually as a result of compression by a tumor growing nearby in the abdomen, most often the pancreas), the bile flows back and stretches the gallbladder. You are unlikely to feel it, but your doctor will if he examines you thoroughly. The swelling is usually painless and typical of pancreatic cancer. Stones that block the gallbladder most often do not enlarge it enough to be palpated, because they usually move within a few days.
is not a neoplasm
Another example of a “lump” in the abdomen that resembles cancer is a bladder filled with urine. Remember that the bubble stores it? When a certain amount of urine accumulates, you receive a signal that the bladder should be emptied. Emptying occurs through the urethra, which in men runs next to the prostate. If this gland becomes enlarged, which often happens in older men, it blocks the urethra so that urine backs up and pools in the bladder. Over time, the bladder stretches and at the same time its walls thicken to be able to hold this abnormally large amount of urine. I will never forget one patient in whom I felt a large, hard, painless “tumor” in the middle of his lower abdomen. I suspected cancer and quickly took him to the hospital for examination. We found nothing but a thickened, large bladder as a result of long-term enlargement of the prostate gland. The prostate was removed, the obstruction to the outflow of urine was eliminated, the “cancer” disappeared!
A similar alternation of blockage, accumulation and swelling is observed in veins and arteries . When a large clot forms in a varicose vein, wherever it occurs, blood flow in the vessel is obstructed and the accumulated blood causes swelling. If it is a testicular vein, then it will look like a varicocele; in the rectum it will give hemorrhoids; on the legs, varicose veins will cause the foot to swell.
Most lumps and lumps are benign, some are cancer, others are caused by infection, inflammation, or obstruction of blood or other body fluids. Let's look at some tumors and swellings in more detail, but for now remember this rule: if the swelling appears suddenly and hurts, it most likely reflects an injury or infection. If it develops gradually and without pain, it may be cancer. I will also share with you the knowledge that I received a long time ago: the rule of seven - any swelling that lasts up to 7 days is most likely inflammation; up to 7 months - cancer; up to 7 years - something with which you were born. What is innate? Cyst anywhere in the body. How do you recognize a cyst? It sequentially increases and decreases as its contents are cyclically removed and reaccumulated.
symptom: swelling or swelling
(Whatever you think about the tumor, always get it checked by a specialist!)
1. Exostoses (hard bone growths on the skull).
2. Lipomas (fat accumulations under the skin).
Can be removed for cosmetic reasons.
3. Fibroids (smooth growths under the skin).
4. Cancer under the skin.
5. Incorrect coloration of nodes under the skin after blood collection or injury.
6. Enlargement of an internal organ as a result of bleeding.
Diagnosis and treatment.
Antibiotics and drainage.
8. Enlarged lymph glands (infection or cancer).
If there is an infection, antibiotics. If malignant growth, appropriate treatment.
9. Migrating organs.
Leave them alone.
10. Blockage of a duct leading from a secreting organ, such as the salivary glands or gall bladder.
Surgery may be needed.
11. Blockage of the urethra, causing urine to accumulate.
Treatment of enlarged prostate, causes of blockage.
12. Blockage of veins or arteries causing blood retention.
Medicines or surgery.
Lumps on the neck are most often the result of enlarged lymph glands, just as it happens under the armpit. Local problems that cause the neck glands to swell (and hurt) are a sore throat, for any reason, and a recent visit to the dentist during which he drilled, extracted, put a filling, or simply brushed your teeth and picked gums. If you have infectious mononucleosis , the glands will swell all over your neck - front and back; measles will do the same thing. The lymph glands in the neck will also become swollen as a result of a general allergic reaction to certain medications. I used to see many patients with enlarged, tender, dry glands due to tuberculosis. Thanks to modern treatment methods, I have not encountered such cases for 25 years. As with other glandular areas, lumps on the neck are painless, hard, and do not go away.
In addition to diseases of the lymph glands, pathology of the thyroid gland will also cause swelling in the neck. This gland is approximately 5 cm tall. It lies above the windpipe (trachea), below the Adam's apple, and is shield-shaped with two elongated lobes on each side of the midline, connected by a wide band of tissue ( thyroid means “shield-shaped” in Greek). Normally, the thyroid gland cannot be felt, except in very thin people. It is also the only gland in your neck that moves when you swallow. Therefore, if you see or feel a swelling on the front of your neck, drink some water. If the tissue moves under your fingers, the problem is the thyroid gland. An enlarged thyroid gland is called a goiter . If it is soft and tender, this is often combined with increased activity of the gland. But the gland can be dense, smooth or lumpy. This makes diagnosis difficult. The size of the goiter has nothing to do with the activity of the gland, which can be normal, low or increased. Regardless of the production of hormones, the goiter can become so large that it compresses adjacent tissues, causing a cough or a rough voice. It can even put pressure on the esophagus, making swallowing difficult. When this happens, it is usually removed surgically.
Sometimes the overall size of the gland may be normal, but when you pass your hand over it, say while shaving, you feel a small lump . It may simply be an extra piece of thyroid tissue that functions in the same way as the rest of it. But such a nodule can secrete too much hormone regardless of the rest of the gland, and then it is called “hot”. The thyroid nodule can also be “cold” - i.e. do not secrete any hormone at all. "Hot" thyroid nodules are almost never malignant; “cold” can be such, especially in men. A radioactive scan will differentiate between the two types. “Cold” nodules are often removed, just in case, more often in men than in women. In most cases, thyroid cancer that can be felt or seen is extremely slow growing and can often be completely cured by removal, even if it has been growing for several years.
symptom: swelling in the neck
What to do with him?
1. Enlargement of the lymph gland due to:
viral disease (mononucleosis, measles);
general allergic reaction to the medicine.
don't take it.
2. Thyroid goiter.
Treatment or, if the enlarged thyroid gland is pressing on adjacent tissue, removal.
3. Thyroid nodule.
Radioactive scan to determine whether it releases the hormone ("hot") or not ("cold"). Ultrasound, CT scan, and cannula biopsy will help in diagnosis and treatment.
Tumor under the armpit
You will almost certainly find a lump under your armpit if you are a woman and have a good habit of examining your breasts. A good breast self-exam should always include the armpit, because cancer can enlarge the lymph nodes there, even when the breast itself appears perfectly healthy. Remember that lymph glands are filters that trap malignant cells or infectious organisms. When they do this, they increase in size and are easily palpable. This is why when removing cancer from any part of the body, the surgeon always checks for gland involvement in that area. They are usually the first port of destination for cancer cells on their journey.
Notwithstanding the above, if you find a lump under your arm, do not panic, it may be the result of an infection somewhere in your arm, which is drained by the glands of the armpit. In this case, the tumor appears suddenly and is painful or tender, in contrast to the large, hard, and painless glands affected by cancer.
If you find an enlarged gland in one armpit, always check the other one, as well as the lymph glands in the groin and neck. Viral infections , such as measles, chickenpox, infectious mononucleosis and many others, often cause widespread glandular enlargement throughout the body. Unfortunately, some malignant tumors do the same, like Hodgkin's disease (lymphogranulomatosis) and other serious lymphomas.
A general allergic reaction to sulfonamides, iodine, penicillin and many other drugs will also cause swollen glands.
Sometimes what appears to be a tumor under the armpit is not a lymph gland at all. This could be completely normal breast tissue that has gotten lost and ended up under the armpit. Such a nodule can also be a benign cyst or a harmless wen (lipoma).
You shouldn't try to diagnose a lump or lumps under your armpit yourself unless the cause is obvious, say you cut yourself shaving your hair there or you have an obvious infection. Assessing the significance of any swollen gland is fraught with dangerous pitfalls. Even your doctor may have difficulty with individual glands after a thorough external examination and appropriate blood tests. Very often the only way to figure it out is to do a biopsy. She will confirm the diagnosis.
symptom: tumor(s) under the armpit
1. Infected gland (painful).
Treatment of the corresponding infection.
2. Malignant disease (especially of the mammary gland) - dense, painless.
3. General viral infection.
It will go away on its own without treatment.
4. Allergic reaction.
It will go away if the provoking agent is eliminated.
5. Normal breast tissue that has developed out of place.
No treatment is needed.
No treatment is required unless it bothers you or has become infected.
It is harmless, unless it has grown too much and it causes discomfort.
8. Is the reason unclear?
Tumor in the BREAST
90% of all cases of breast cancer are detected not by doctors or mammograms, but by women themselves. But randomly feeling your breasts when you're in the mood isn't the best way to do it. For self-examination to be effective and for you to be able to detect a node that is still small and can be treated, you must learn how to do it correctly. Consult with oncologists, have your doctor check that you are examining yourself correctly, and practice constantly. You don't overdo it here. Once you've learned, get your breasts checked every month, especially if you have a family history of breast cancer. You should also be examined regularly by a doctor. Get your first mammogram (breast x-ray) at age 35 and then repeat every two years between ages 40 and 50 and every year thereafter. In my opinion, all three approaches—proper self-examination techniques, regular medical examinations, and mammography—offer a realistic chance of detecting cancer early enough to treat it .
Of course, only a minority of breast lumps are cancerous. Most are either simple cysts or benign chronic cystic mastitis , giving rise to lumps. But you can’t be absolutely sure of the diagnosis—and neither can your doctor! Each of you will suspect that what is discovered is not cancer, you are both “ almost sure,” but this is not enough. Every lump requires a full examination —at least once. When your doctor examines your breasts, he will determine the characteristics of the tumor—size, density, whether it is tender or if it stretches the skin unevenly so that the skin looks like the peel of an orange. The doctor will also look for lumps in the second breast and in both armpits, and ask if your sisters or mother's relatives have had breast cancer. It will find out if you are drinking (alcohol appears to increase the risk of breast cancer). At this stage, the doctor will have a fairly clear idea of what he is dealing with, but he will still be unsure. Therefore, he will probably recommend a mammogram. It is also not a 100% guarantee, but cancer usually gives a characteristic picture with this x-ray examination. If there is the slightest suspicion after an external examination and a mammogram, your doctor will want (required) to do a biopsy - either through a needle (the contents of the gland are sucked into it and analyzed), or by an open biopsy (the entire gland or a piece of it is surgically removed and examined under a microscope) .
There are several characteristics of breast lumps that make a cancer diagnosis more likely. First of all, cancerous lumps are usually painless. If your breasts hurt, you most likely have an injury or infection. If the enlargement looks like a cyst, i.e. on a small bag of liquid, the doctor may shine a light on it in a darkened room. The liquid will illuminate; or this will not happen if there is no fluid in the unit. Nodes without fluid are more suspicious. Unfortunately, this method is far from perfect, because the breasts often contain various sebaceous cysts, wen, and other things that can mimic solid tumors. When the skin over the dimpled lump looks unusual and resembles an orange peel, you can be almost certain that it is cancer. Lumps in both breasts indicate a process other than cancer. If the nipple bleeds, suspect malignant growth.
Don't forget: although not common, breast cancer does occur in men. In my practice there were two such cases.
Some medications cause the glands to swell and even make them lumpy and painful. These include DOPA derivatives (aldomet) used to treat hypertension, the psychotropic drug chlorpromazine, aldactone (a mild diuretic), digitalis (prescribed for heart disease) and beta blockers (used for angina pectoris, high blood pressure, heart rhythm problems). This side effect occurs in both men and women, but is more severe in men because their breasts are smaller. When you stop taking the medication in question, your breasts will slowly return to normal—but sometimes it takes weeks.
Three basic rules for breast cancer: 1) triple check - self-examination, doctor and mammography; 2) any new lump in the gland, especially if it is painless and located only in one breast, should be considered cancer until a different diagnosis is made; 3) in most cases a biopsy is necessary, just to be sure.
symptom: tumor in the mammary gland
What could it mean?
1. Cancer, especially if the node is painless and is present in only one breast.
Biopsy and appropriate treatment: complete removal of the gland, removal of the node, radiation, hormones or chemotherapy - or a combination of these methods.
2. Benign cyst.
Biopsy to be sure.
3. Chronic cystic mastitis.
Biopsy for peace of mind; vitamin E; do not consume caffeine; a diet low in fat and high in carbohydrates.
It will pass eventually.
5. Reaction to medications.
Discontinue the offending drug.
A swollen STOMACH - and you are neither pregnant nor obese
You know the feeling: you just ate a big meal, maybe washed it down with carbonated drinks, and your trousers, skirt, belt have become a little tight. After a few hours (either emitting gases through the north or south hole) most of the discomfort will pass. This type of fullness after eating is usually not a medical problem.
When should you be concerned about a bloated belly and why?
If bloating repeats, disappears and appears again , this is most likely due to the fact that you have swallowed air or you have gas in your intestines. Most swallowers deny this fact because it is not a conscious action on their part, but simply a nervous habit. Swallowing large amounts of air (as well as water) stretches the stomach and gives a feeling of fullness, which can be relieved by what doctors politely call “belching” (read “belching”). Such people usually say that they “ate something” or that they “have gas.” In fact, only in a small number of cases does bloating result from the consumption of gas-producing carbohydrates (cabbage is a well-known example). If this is the case, changing your diet and avoiding sweets will relieve the gas problem.
In some "functional" bowel disorders, such as " nervous stomach ", " spastic bowel " and " irritable bowel " (in which there are often no physical changes), large amounts of gas form within the intestines, accompanied by distension and collapse of the abdominal wall. Again, a change in diet or anti-spasticity medications will help.
There is one pathology in which stretching after eating does reflect physical illness - a disorder of the gallbladder . An hour or two after eating, you feel bloated, which is relieved by belching. The likely mechanism is this: a healthy gallbladder can pump out enough bile to digest the fatty foods you eat; a diseased bladder (with or without stones) is unable to, so undigested fat simply lingers in the intestines, giving a feeling of fullness in the abdomen and gas.
Remember that when the problem is air stretching your belly, the tightness and tightness of your clothing will come and go. On the contrary, when your waist increases and it does not go away , therefore, your weight has increased or fluid . Fluid in the abdomen can be distinguished from air. If your belly fills with fluid, your sides will expand as gravity causes the fluid to flow downwards. On the contrary, the air is distributed evenly, and the sides do not spread out to the sides. If fluid accumulates in your abdomen, you won't necessarily gain weight as you might expect, because conditions that cause fluid retention are usually associated with serious illness and poor diet.
The most common cause of fluid in the abdomen (ascites) is advanced liver disease (cirrhosis), which occurs in the later stages of long-term alcoholism or chronic viral hepatitis. Of course, if you're an alcoholic, a bloated belly won't be your first concern—unless you've noticed a red bulbous nose and red spider spots on your stomach, chest, and arms. Regardless of the cause, in men, the inability of a diseased liver to deactivate the tiny amounts of female hormones that are produced in all men causes shrinkage of the testicles, weakened sex drive, and the appearance of feminine characteristics such as enlarged breasts and loss of facial hair.
Heart disease , like cirrhosis of the liver, can lead to fluid accumulation in the abdomen. A weak heart muscle is unable to push through the blood coming to it from all over the body. Some of it is retained first in the lungs, and later in other places, including the stomach and legs. You will be diagnosed with heart disease if you experience severe shortness of breath, especially when lying on your stomach. In addition, with cirrhosis, the stomach swells before the legs begin to swell; in case of heart failure it is the other way around.
Here's another heart condition, in addition to weak heart muscle, that can cause fluid to accumulate in the abdomen: a problem with the pericardium , the sac that contains the heart. When the pericardial sac is damaged by a virus, tuberculosis or some infectious agent, and sometimes after open heart surgery, it becomes thicker and scars form on it. The hard tissue squeezes the heart like a steel ring. Even if the heart muscle is healthy and strong, it cannot contract normally in such an embrace. It does not push through all the blood, just as it does when it is weak. This condition, called constrictive pericarditis , causes blood to be retained in the abdomen, causing it to swell. When fluid accumulates around the heart under the pericardium, even without significant scarring of the sac, it has the same effect.
cancer grows in the abdomen, regardless of where it starts, fluid accumulates in the abdomen . Ovarian cancer causes particularly severe fluid production. I have myself observed abdominal enlargement as a result of ovarian cancer being mistaken for pregnancy—at least for a period of time—in women of childbearing age.
Pregnancy is such an obvious cause of abdominal enlargement that we think no woman will miss this diagnosis. After all, she has nine months at her disposal! Believe it or not, some women were brought in to give birth without even realizing they were pregnant. I once met such a woman on a television interview. She told me that by never paying attention to her periods, she thought she was just getting fat. The day came and she felt cramps in her stomach. She sat down on the toilet and gave birth to a normal child! These women usually do not understand the physiology of menstruation or conception. Therefore, if you are sexually active and in your prime, always think about pregnancy if your waistline is increasing for some unknown reason.
The other side of the coin is a condition called pseudopsiesis. This is a relatively rare psychiatric problem in which a woman is mistakenly convinced that she is pregnant. Her waist is actually getting bigger, but after nine months nothing is happening. I myself have not seen such patients and I don’t know what causes the stomach to enlarge, but such a pathology exists.
The swelling does not necessarily affect the entire abdomen. It may be local. Asymmetry may be the result of a cyst in the abdominal cavity or, if it is in the lower region, stool retention due to severe constipation. If you find a lump in your abdomen, remember the four quadrants I talked about in Chapter 1. If the lump is in the upper right quadrant, it is most likely related to the liver or something in the liver. In the upper left, probably due to an enlargement of the spleen in various diseases, including infectious mononucleosis, leukemia, lymphoma and other blood diseases. Swelling in the lower midline can be the result of distension of the bladder, enlargement of the uterus during pregnancy or fibrous tumors , ovarian cysts and other neoplasms. If you've ever had abdominal surgery, you may notice a lump along the seam where the scar tissue has stretched and the contents of the abdomen are protruding through it. These incisional hernias sometimes require surgery.
So, abdominal enlargement that is not associated with pregnancy and simple weight gain usually reflects air or fluid retention. Air comes and goes, while liquid gradually accumulates. A rule to remember: you shouldn't rush to the doctor if you have to loosen your belt after a heavy meal, but you should do so if your waistline continues to increase and progresses.