| Characteristics | Likely benign or inflammatory cause | Likely malignant or mycobacterial cause |
|---|---|---|
| Pain | Tender | Non-tender |
| Consistency | Soft | Hard |
| Fixation | Mobile | Fixed |
| Location | Cervical (anterior to the sternocleidomastoid muscle), inguinal | Cervical (dorsal to the sternocleidomastoid muscle), supraclavicular |
| Progression | Acute enlargement without long-term progression | Slow development combined with progressive enlargement |