Hump behind the shoulders

Alternative names:

buffalo hump

Definition:

A lump of fat on the back of the neck (cervicodorsal).

Considerations:

A buffalo hump by itself is not diagnostic of any one condition. It must be considered in light of other signs, symptoms, and tests.

Common causes:

• extended use of some steroids (glucocorticoids such as prednisone, cortisone, and hydrocortisone)
• extreme obesity
• hypercortisolism (caused by Cushing's syndrome)

Note: There may be other causes of a hump behind the shoulders. This list is not all inclusive, and the causes are not presented in order of likelihood. The causes of this symptom can include unlikely diseases and medications. Furthermore, the causes may vary based on age and gender of the affected person, as well as on the specific characteristics of the symptom such as time course, aggravating factors, relieving factors, and associated complaints. Use the Symptom Analysis option to explore the possible explanations for a hump behind the shoulders, occurring alone or in combination with other problems.