Ear, Nose and Throat Disorders Forum - Symptoms of lymphadenopathy

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Q: Symptoms of lymphadenopathy

asked by: DoctorQuestion on January 7th, 2009

For several years I have had large lumps come and go behind the ear.Lately it has become much worse. I have done alot of reasearch and I am so lost. 2 Years ago I went and saw my doctor and he said it was a swollen lymph node with nothing to worry about. However, they are getting worse. Is this what it is? What can I do? Sometimes they will come to a head and pop and omit a very bad smelling liquid. Sometimes they just swell and then go away. Never the less the are very painfull and the ones that do pop leave a permanent small black type hole behind my ear. Some research I read says nodes will swell while fighting illness and so forth yet I feel fine and lately it seems that I always one or more on one or even both ears. So I am not concerend and it does become embarassasing as they can clearly be soon and pointed out. Some get really large like a marble and some stay small..please help. My fear is that I will go back to my doctor and he will pass me the same advice..thank you

Replies(1)

Dr. Goce Aleksovski , MD

replied on January 8th, 2009

Ear, Nose and Throat Disorders Answer A5280

It is not strange that research about lymphadenopathy (enlarged lymph nodes) did not bring any specific results, because this is a frequent sign of many illnesses, from common benign acute upper respiratory infection (URI) or cat-scratch disease to more serious illnesses. Since this condition lasts for a couple of years, this might mean that it needs a more detailed approach. It is advisable that you visit your family doctor, who might want to do a physical examination to check if there are enlarged nodes on other specific parts of the body, common blood tests, a culture of the “smelling liquid” coming out of the lymph nodes and maybe even a node biopsy or CT scan, if necessary (to check the inner body nodes, not reachable with palpation). These should provide enough information on what provokes their enlargement and how the main condition should be treated. Lymphadenopathy is only a sign. It is the main cause that should be discovered and treated accordingly.

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