Pediatric Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Specialization for Childhood Lumps and Bumps

Every child will experience lumps and bumps as they go through typical childhood experiences. When those occurrences form irregular areas of concern or swelling, it’s time to consult an expert. Our pediatric plastic and reconstructive surgery team at Valley Children’s Healthcare can determine the cause of the issue and provide an optimal treatment plan for small to the most complex lumps or bumps.
 

Understanding Lumps and Bumps in Children

Known as childhood lumps and bumps, but most often called a lesion or mass, it’s critical to seek a pediatric specialist’s opinion to determine the exact cause of the lesion or swelling on your child. In most cases, these areas are very different from suspicious cancer growth or tumors. If the area is quickly developing, it could be a benign tumor or neoplasm of unregulated growth. These lumps or bumps need attention. It is essential to consult a board-certified and fellowship-trained pediatric plastic and reconstructive surgeon for the expert removal of any issues to minimize any long-term effects.

In this category of clinical care, most lump or bump irregularities fall into these categories:

• Congenital: Most congenital lumps or bumps are noticeable at birth and can be soft or firm, but generally, are non-mobile cysts. Do not squeeze them, but consult your pediatric specialist, especially if the area is affecting other functions such as hearing or sight.
• Infectious: Lumps or bumps that can stem from infectious sources such as insects, cat-scratch disease or deep fungal infections can include warts, dermatitis, scabies, inflamed lesions or other skin irritations.
• Inflammatory: Lumps or bumps that are inflammatory can include common issues such as acne or more complex conditions such as vasculitis or non-scaling papules known as granuloma annulare.
• Malignant: Areas of more serious concern that are non-healing, rapidly growing or painful may be identified as neuroblastoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, melanoma or other types of cancer.
• Neoplasm: Present at birth or early childhood, neoplasms are an abnormal mass of cells that are growing abnormally and develop into a tissue mass. Neoplasms can be benign or malignant. 
• Vascular: Lumps and bumps in the vascular category generally show as red over the first phase of growth and then start to regress into more of a grey-purple tone. They can bleed and grow rapidly. Some vascular issues may be minor due to injury, sneezing or coughing and resolve over time.  

Our Valley Children’s Healthcare team can help with any irregularity that affects your child’s health and wellbeing, including common conditions such as dermoid cysts, lipoma, epidermoid cysts or benign moles. In most cases, these lumps and bumps can be easily removed surgically. We can help ease your worry with an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment plan.