It is impossible to render a diagnosis over the Internet, of course. Enlarged lymph nodes can arise from infection or inflammation in the body, or from other more serious causes. Most of the time, "reactive" lymph nodes in the neck will occur in conjunction with a sore throat or an upper respiratory infection (or, more rarely, with infection of the gums or tooth sockets), and in these cases, the enlarged lymph nodes are almost always tender to the touch. A form of cancer known as lymphoma can also arise within lymph nodes and, in contrast to reactive lymph nodes, most lymphomas are not particularly tender to the touch. Other causes of nodules in the neck include benign and malignant thyroid nodules, and benign or malignant tumors of the salivary glands
If this enlarged nodule persists, enlarges, or is followed by the development of other nodules in the neck, then a more detailed head and neck evaluation should be conducted by a qualified ENT surgeon.
Sincerely,
Robert A. Wascher, MD, FACS
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