Hello. My son is almost three and I noticed a lump beneath the skin about a month ago. It is smaller than a pea, on the shin just below the knee. It is movable and painless. He has had a lump of similar size and characteristics beneath his left nipple since he was an infant which has never changed and his pediatrician has continued to monitor without concern. How can I tell if these are harmless cysts or malignant? (I just started working as an oncology nurse and everything seems like cancer to me now) Thank you!
As per your description, they may be lipomas (fat deposits). They usually found many. Unless they increase in size within in short time, become painful, skin changes or fixed, and hard (these are features warranty immediate doctor attention. The main thing is they will come back after removal in the same area. So as your pediatrician told the child needs close observation. As an oncology nurse if you are still dilemma, the better thing is to do FNAC from the swelling.