Head & Neck
Neck Masses & Head and Neck Tumors
A lump in the neck that lasts more than two to three weeks deserves an expert evaluation — most are benign, and the serious ones reward early diagnosis.
Neck masses range from reactive lymph nodes after an infection to thyroid nodules, benign cysts, salivary gland tumors and, less commonly, cancers of the head and neck. Dr. Bortniker completed advanced fellowship training in head and neck cancer surgery at Beth Israel/Mount Sinai and has decades of experience in the medical and surgical management of head and neck tumors — expertise that guides an efficient, accurate workup.
Have a Neck Lump Checked If
- A lump lasting over 2–3 weeks
- A growing or firm mass
- Lump with voice or swallowing change
- Adults with a new neck mass
Talk to a specialist
Fellowship-trained head and neck evaluation — consultation at our Somerville office.
How a Neck Mass Is Evaluated
The workup pairs a complete head and neck examination — including in-office endoscopy of the throat and voice box — with imaging (ultrasound or CT) and needle biopsy when indicated. This sequence identifies the cause without unnecessary open surgery.
Treatment
Treatment follows the diagnosis: observation for reactive nodes, surgical removal of benign tumors and cysts, and coordinated care for malignancies, where Dr. Bortniker’s head and neck oncologic surgical training and hospital affiliations support complete treatment planning.
Frequently Asked Questions
I had a cold — is my swollen node worrying?
Lymph nodes commonly swell with infections and settle over two to three weeks. A node that keeps growing, feels hard or fixed, or persists beyond three weeks — especially without an infection — is the one to have examined.