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Hump behind the shoulders

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• Treatment

Definition:

Hump behind the shoulders is a lump of fat on the back of the neck.

Alternative Names:

Buffalo hump

Considerations:

A hump behind the shoulders by itself is not a sign of any one, specific condition. The doctor must consider this along with other symptoms and test results.

Common Causes:

• Certain drugs used to treat AIDS
• Extended use of certain steroid medicines, including prednisone, cortisone, and hydrocortisone
• Extreme obesity
• Hypercortisolism (caused by Cushing syndrome)

Osteoporosis may cause a curvature of the spine in the neck called kyphoscoliosis.

References:

Young WF. The incidentally discovered adrenal mass. N Engl J Med . 2007; 356:601-610.

• Review Date: 4/26/2007
• Reviewed By: Robert Hurd, MD, Professor of Endocrinology, Department of Biology, Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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