I have a small lump on my ribs

Hello, thanks for contacting Ask the Expert, with regard to your question the most common reason for a lump forming on the ribs is something known as a lipoma which is a collection of fatty tissue. These type of lumps will lie superficially over a rib and they are usually painless, freely mobile under your fingers and able to move and stay the same over time. Other causes can be; bone spurs which are usually hard, fixed, ie they don’t move under your fingers and tender, an inflamed muscle, or less commonly a neuroma which is a lump or mass formed of nerve cells. Unfortunately it is not possible to diagnose what the exact problem is without an examination being performed and you will need to see your Dr to discuss this with him, he will be able to examine this for you and if necessary perform any tests such as a small biopsy of the lump that will help him to make a diagnosis and to guide any treatment should it be required.

Hopefully you will be able to arrange to see your Dr in the next week and in the meantime we hope the above information will be helpful for you.

Answered by the Health at Hand nurses