Differential Diagnosis for Small Facial Lumps after a Fall

Single Most Likely Diagnosis

• Hematoma: This is the most likely diagnosis given the history of a fall. A hematoma is a collection of blood outside of blood vessels, which can occur after trauma, leading to swelling and lumps.

Other Likely Diagnoses

• Contusion: Similar to a hematoma, a contusion is a bruise that can result from blood leakage into the tissues after an injury, causing discoloration and swelling.
• Laceration or Abrasion: Although not typically described as lumps, if the fall resulted in an open wound, the subsequent healing process or infection could lead to lump formation.
• Fat Necrosis: This condition can occur after trauma to the fatty tissues, leading to the formation of firm, painless lumps under the skin.

Do Not Miss Diagnoses

• Fracture: Especially if the lumps are over bony prominences, it's crucial to rule out fractures, as these can lead to more serious complications if not properly managed.
• Foreign Body: If the fall involved contact with debris or objects, there's a possibility of a foreign body being embedded under the skin, which could lead to infection or other complications.
• Infection or Abscess: Any break in the skin from the fall could lead to infection, which might present as a lump if an abscess forms.

Rare Diagnoses

• Lipoma or Other Benign Tumors: While less likely to be directly related to the fall, if the trauma drew attention to pre-existing lumps, these could be benign growths like lipomas.
• Parotid Gland Injury: If the fall involved significant trauma to the face, there's a small chance of injury to the parotid gland, which could lead to swelling or lump formation in the area.