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My daughter developed a pea-sized lump in front of her ear ...
Sent to Health Experts July 03 02:30 AM

My daughter developed a pea-sized lump in front of her ear last year. A few months ago it flattened out into a dime-sized lump. I thought it was a cyst. She was referred to an ENT dr. who said she thinks it's a swollen lymph node. She put her on an antibiotic and thought it would shrink to half the size within ten days. It has not. It does however, feel like it has become more mobile and has moved closer to the ear. The next step is a needle biopsy and possible surgery which is going to be complicated due to the five major nerves in the face. What causes a lymph node to swell like this, stay swollen and flatten out? Is this serious?

 

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Female , Age: 13

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She is being seen my an Ear, Nose, Throat dr. Her father has her for the summer. I'm asking because I am unable to be with her and would like to know your opinion.

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July 3 3:12 AM (41 minutes and 52 seconds later)
         
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Being a pediatrician I understand and appreciate your anxiety...
The commonest cause of a single lymphnode enlargement that does not respond to antibiotics and without any other symptoms is "reactive lymphoid hyperplasia" meaning a non specific inflammation secondary to unknown ? viral infection.. And this is what the lymphnode FNAC (needle biopsy) OR the surgery (ifneeded ) will show.
WHile without actually examining the child I am unable to offer a definitive opinion, generally a normal FNAC should put the minds of doctors at rest (unless they feel something amiss) and just routine followup would be recommended...
If hwoever a surgery of rlymphnode excision is planned, then it is generally not a very complicated surgery and almost all patients recover without any nerve damage.. though as you correctly point that there would be a minor risk as in all surgical procedures...
Personally I believe that a needle biopsy should solve her problem and if the report is normal then only a clinical followup would be indicated..
I hope that I have helped reduce your anxiety to some extent..

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Regards
Dr. Gupta





Edited by GauravMD on July 3 2006 at 3:12 AM
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