Lump at base of skull

[Choccymumma]

Any idea what this could be? My daughter is 13 and had just found a lump at the base of her skull. Not directly behind her ear but a bit further round. Seems to move as its not always easy to feel.
Shes panicking and I've reassured her but I worry too. I will obviously get it checked.
Thanks.

There are glands down/back there (like the ones under the jaw for example). Iirc they swell up if you have rubella - at least that's what happened to me (before the days of MMR) might possibly be another infection causing it to be large, or perhaps its normal size and she's just never noticed it before. But of course , take her to an HCP.

Its a bit further round from her ear, at the top of her main tendons. Moves a lot until it disappears and then comes back again.

Probably an occipital lymph node

I was trying to work out where that lymph node is.

I had this once in my early twenties - it was a swollen gland and appeared during a time when I had been poorly and just generally wasn’t looking after myself. Can’t remember how long it took to go…couple of months maybe? Definitely wasn’t there long term.

She's not poorly but had a cold 2 weeks ago. Its a horrible feeling worrying about it.

Highly likely its a swollen lymph node. Specially if she's had a recent illness.
If it hasn't gone away in 2-3 weeks, then it's time to visit the gp.
(Im not a medical professional but familiar personally with the topic)

Are they hard? If she turns her head to the side it's harder to find. Sorry for all the questions, I suffer from health anxiety (although I do keep my worries away from her)

I had this a lot through secondary school, and mine was to do with where I was bending my head to look at the desk and aggravated the gland. Or so the Dr told me...

Of course your daughters maybe different so maybe just ask in a chemist or make a Dr appointment if it doesn't go down. As others have said, if you had a cold glands can come up and down.

Hi OP, sounds like a lymph node, especially if she has been ill recently. They flare up (especially in children who tend to have a more obvious lymph node reaction due to the lack of fat covering) and can take weeks to go down. If you are still concerned, speak with your GP. They will likely tell you to keep an eye on it over the next 2-3 weeks; if it gets bigger or doesn't go, they will likely want to see you again and do bloods, but be reassured that this is just standard practice. My DC have very obvious lymph nodes that will be raised for weeks and then just disappear. Try not to worry though 🙂

As someone who received terrible news for a skull lump that everyone said was just a cyst I would say take your daughter to the gp who ought to refer for an ultrasound (unless it is clearly nothing to worry about) rather than relying on people on the internet that can't even see the lunp you are referring to. The ultrasound appt will prob take ages to come through as it is.

In my child's case we were operated on within days of the ultrasound.

The likelihood is it is not serious and one of the things someone else has mentioned but don't leave your childs health to chance.

We have a gp appointment tomorrow

@honestlyseriously what was your daughters lump like? My daughters isn't on the skull itself.

DD's was behind her ear (you have a string of them there) and DS had one on the base (really on the nape) of his neck, on the left hand side. I was at a play group with a woman who was a paediatrician at the time and she asked if DS was poorly or teething and said that it was just a raised lymph node. With DD's one (discovered Christmas day, of all days!) was quite painful (assuming because it was so large) and I saw a GP twice over the course of a few weeks, who advised that my children just have big lymph nodes (DS has lots that are constantly raised and both DC have coeliac, so GP said it was just how my DC were built). I would speak with a GP for peace of mind though :)

Thanks,
We have an appointment tomorrow. Can't believe how worried this has made me, completely knocked me for six.

Hope all goes well today, OP. Children are just one big worry aren't they! Hope it is nothing to be concerned about :)

I’m not a dr but from past experiences I’ve learned that lumps that move are less of a worry!
so hopefully nothing to worry. Good luck!

Thanks,
doctor says its most likely a gland and nothing to worry about. Her throat is a bit red so she may be carrying a virus unknowingly.
Thansk everyone.

Glad she's OK @Choccymumma x

Glad to hear it! I hope you can relax now!
❤️

(But do go again in a few weeks if it's not gone)

@FeatherBlack
Oh gosh, if it doesn't go? The doctor just said to go back if we were worried.