Differential Diagnosis for Subcutaneous Cyst of the Anterior Upper Chest Under the Clavicle
- Single Most Likely Diagnosis
- Epidermoid cyst (sebaceous cyst): This is the most common type of skin cyst and can occur anywhere on the body, including under the clavicle. It is usually benign and filled with keratin, a protein found in skin cells.
- Other Likely Diagnoses
- Lipoma: A benign tumor composed of fat tissue, which can occur under the skin and may feel like a cyst.
- Dermoid cyst: A type of cyst that contains skin, hair, and sometimes teeth, which can occur in the midline of the body but can also be found under the clavicle.
- Infected lymph node or abscess: An infection in the lymph node or a collection of pus under the skin can mimic a cyst.
- Do Not Miss Diagnoses
- Cold abscess (tuberculous abscess): Although less common, a cold abscess due to tuberculosis can present as a painless, subcutaneous cyst and is crucial to diagnose due to its infectious nature.
- Metastatic disease: In rare cases, a subcutaneous nodule under the clavicle could be a metastasis from a malignancy elsewhere in the body, such as breast cancer or lymphoma.
- Rare Diagnoses
- Branchial cleft cyst: Typically found on the lateral aspect of the neck, but can occasionally be located more anteriorly under the clavicle.
- Thyroglossal duct cyst: Although usually found in the midline of the neck, it can occasionally be off-midline and under the clavicle if it has been displaced.
- Hydatid cyst: Caused by the Echinococcus parasite, this type of cyst can occur in various parts of the body, including subcutaneously, but is rare in this location and more common in endemic areas.