Where should I go to get a lump checked out? A guide to making the right choice

October 1, 2025 •

5 min read

While most lumps under the skin are benign, certain warning signs do require prompt medical attention. Understanding where should I go to get a lump checked out can depend on the lump's characteristics, severity, and any associated symptoms.

Quick Summary

A primary care provider is typically the first stop for a new lump, who can then refer to a specialist, if needed, or order diagnostic tests. The appropriate path to care—be it a family doctor, urgent care, or the ER—depends on the lump's specific symptoms and characteristics.

Key Points

Primary Care First: Your PCP is the ideal first point of contact for evaluating most new lumps and can manage or refer based on the findings.
Emergency for Red Flags: Go to the ER immediately for rapidly growing lumps, severe pain, or systemic symptoms like a high fever.
Urgent Care for Minor Issues: Use urgent care for non-life-threatening concerns like infected cysts or minor abscesses, which are often drained there.
See a Specialist as Needed: Your PCP may refer you to a dermatologist for skin-related lumps or a breast specialist for concerns in that area.
Lumps are Often Benign: While finding a lump is scary, most are harmless conditions like cysts or lipomas, but professional evaluation is still essential.
Diagnostic Tools Vary: Doctors diagnose lumps using a physical exam, imaging tests (like ultrasound), and sometimes a biopsy.
Don't Wait on Suspicious Lumps: A lump that persists for more than a few weeks, grows, or changes warrants medical attention rather than simple observation.

Finding a new lump or bump on your body can be unsettling, but it's important to remember that most lumps are not cancerous. The key is to have any new, unusual, or changing lump evaluated by a medical professional. Your first choice of action should depend on the nature of the lump and any other symptoms you are experiencing.

Your Primary Care Physician (PCP): The First Step

In most cases, your primary care physician (PCP) is the best starting point when you discover a new lump. The relationship you have with your PCP allows for comprehensive evaluation, as they are familiar with your overall health history. During the appointment, your doctor will perform a physical examination of the lump, assessing its size, texture, mobility, and location. They will also discuss your medical history and any related symptoms.

After the initial exam, your PCP may determine that the lump is harmless and doesn't require further action, refer you to a specialist, or order additional tests.

Potential actions from a PCP:

Observation: If the lump is soft, movable, and has benign characteristics, your doctor might recommend a period of observation to see if it changes or resolves on its own.
Referral: For complex or suspicious lumps, your PCP may refer you to a specialist, such as a dermatologist for a skin lesion or a breast specialist for a breast lump.
Imaging: They can order diagnostic imaging, such as an ultrasound, to get a closer look at the lump's structure and contents.

When to go to an Urgent Care Center

Urgent care centers are a good option for non-life-threatening issues that require prompt attention but can't wait for a routine appointment. When it comes to lumps, urgent care is appropriate for:

Infected cysts or abscesses that are red, swollen, and painful.
Minor, non-life-threatening infections causing swollen lymph nodes.
A minor cut or wound that has developed an infected lump.

Many urgent care centers are equipped to perform minor procedures like draining a cyst or abscess, providing a less expensive and faster alternative to the emergency room for these issues.

When a Lump is an Emergency

While most lumps are benign, certain symptoms warrant an immediate visit to the emergency room. Waiting could have serious consequences. Go to the ER if a lump exhibits any of the following emergency signs:

Rapid growth: The lump grows noticeably in a short period (e.g., 24-48 hours).
Systemic symptoms: You experience a high fever (above 101°F) along with the lump.
Signs of a severe infection: Red streaking from the lump, pus drainage, or significant spreading redness.
Functional impairment: The lump affects your ability to breathe, swallow, or move an extremity.
Neurological symptoms: A lump near the spine is accompanied by weakness, numbness, or loss of bladder/bowel control.
Severe pain: The lump causes severe, incapacitating pain.

Understanding Specialized Care for Lumps

After your initial assessment by a PCP, you might be referred to a specialist depending on the lump's characteristics and location.

Dermatologists: These specialists focus on conditions of the skin, hair, and nails. They are the right specialist to see for skin lumps such as cysts, dermatofibromas, or suspected skin cancers.
Breast Specialists: For breast lumps, your PCP or gynecologist may refer you to a breast specialist, or mastologist, who focuses on conditions of the mammary gland. They have expertise in evaluating and treating breast-specific lumps.
Surgical Oncologists: If diagnostic tests suggest a malignant (cancerous) growth, a surgical oncologist may be consulted to determine if surgery is necessary.

The Diagnostic Process: What to Expect

To get a clearer picture of your lump, your doctor may use several diagnostic tools:

Physical Examination: The initial assessment where your doctor feels and inspects the lump.
Imaging Tests: These can include an ultrasound to determine if the lump is solid or fluid-filled, or a CT scan or MRI for deeper, more complex masses.
Biopsy: If the lump is suspicious, a biopsy is performed. A small tissue sample is taken and sent to a lab for analysis to confirm if the cells are benign or malignant.
Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA): For some lumps, a thin needle is used to draw out fluid or cells for analysis.

Common Types of Benign Lumps

Most lumps are harmless and resolve on their own or with simple treatment. Some common types include:

Cysts: Closed sacs in or under the skin filled with fluid or semi-solid material. They often feel like smooth, movable balls under the skin.
Lipomas: Noncancerous growths of fatty tissue that are typically soft, doughy, and movable with slight finger pressure.
Enlarged Lymph Glands: Pea-sized structures that can swell when your body is fighting an infection. They are most often found in the neck, armpits, and groin.

Comparing Medical Care Options for Lumps


Factor	Primary Care Provider (PCP)	Urgent Care	Emergency Room (ER)
Severity	Non-emergency, routine checks	Non-life-threatening but needs prompt care	Life-threatening or serious conditions
Best For	Initial evaluation, persistent but stable lumps	Suspected infected cysts, minor infections	Rapidly growing lumps, severe pain, systemic symptoms
Cost	Generally lowest co-pay	Moderate co-pay	Highest co-pay
Wait Time	Varies, usually requires an appointment	Often shorter than ER wait times	Can be long, based on patient prioritization
Equipment	Basic exam tools, can order imaging	Can include X-ray, lab tests, minor procedures	Advanced imaging (CT, MRI), full surgical and lab support
Expertise	General medicine, comprehensive health overview	Acute care, minor injury/illness treatment	Emergency medicine specialists

Conclusion

The path you choose for evaluation depends entirely on the nature of the lump you've found. For most new lumps, a visit to your primary care physician is the most logical and comprehensive first step. They can manage benign conditions or guide you to the correct specialist if needed. For minor but pressing issues like an infected cyst, urgent care can offer timely relief. However, if a lump is accompanied by alarming symptoms such as rapid growth, severe pain, or a fever, immediate attention at an emergency room is necessary. While the vast majority of lumps are harmless, proactive evaluation ensures that a serious condition is not missed. Always trust your instincts and seek medical advice for any lump that causes you concern. For more detailed information on benign conditions like lipomas, refer to resources like the Mayo Clinic.

Frequently Asked Questions

Go to the ER if a lump is growing rapidly (within 24-48 hours), is accompanied by a high fever, causes severe pain, or is affecting your breathing or swallowing.

Yes, many urgent care centers have the capability to drain cysts and abscesses, making it a convenient and often less costly option than the ER for these minor issues.

A doctor will perform a physical exam to assess the lump's size, texture, and mobility. Based on their findings, they may order imaging tests like an ultrasound, or perform a biopsy to analyze a tissue sample.

No, you should not panic. The majority of lumps are benign, but it is always recommended to have a new or changing lump evaluated by a medical professional to ensure it is harmless.

A cyst is a sac filled with fluid or other material and is almost always benign. A tumor is a solid mass of tissue, which can be either benign or malignant.

For small, soft, and mobile lumps, a brief monitoring period might be acceptable, but if it persists beyond 4 weeks, grows, or changes, it should be evaluated by a doctor.

A lipoma is a benign, slow-growing tumor made of fatty tissue that feels soft, doughy, and movable under the skin. They are generally harmless and often don't require treatment.