Hump behind the shoulders

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

Buffalo hump; Dorsocervical fat pad

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.

• 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 . This causes an abnormal shape but does not by itself cause excessive fat in the back of the neck.

Review Date: 10/18/2009
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).

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