Hump behind the shoulders

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Buffalo hump; Dorsocervical fat pad

If the hump is caused by a certain medicine, your doctor may tell you to stop taking the drug or change your dosage. Never stop taking any medicine without first talking to your doctor.

Diet and exercise can help you to lose weight and may relieve some humps due to extreme obesity.

Make an appointment with your doctor if you have an unexplained hump behind the shoulders.

Your doctor will perform a physical examination and ask questions about your medical history and symptoms. Questions may include:

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• What medications do you take?
• How old are you?
• Have you been checked for osteoporosis?
• What other symptoms do you have?

Diagnostic tests that may be performed include:

• Bone mineral density test
• Complete blood count
• Cortisol - blood
• Cortisol - urine
• CT or MRI scan of the head
• CT of the abdomen and adrenal glands
• Dexamethasone suppression test
• X-rays of the chest
• Visual field exam

Treatment will be aimed at the problem that caused the fat to develop in the first place.

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).