Joined: 02 Jan 2008 Posts: 1 Location: North Lincolnshire, England
lump in front of ear Posted: 01-02-08 22:41pm
About three weeks ago I noticed a quite
substantial lump right infront of my right
ear that felt like it was connected to my
jaw bone/joint. After a few days it
started to get smaller and smaller and a
week later the shrinking stopped and it
has remained roughly the same size ever
since. I do sometimes feel it has gotten
slighter smaller/larger but it has yet
shown no signs of disapearing all
together. It is totally painless, I can
push into it quite hard and feel no
discomfort at all. The only thing I can
think of that caused it was that I have
always been able to do a thing with my jaw
where it sort of like cracks out and into
place, especially on my right side,
sometimes if I do this the area around it
becomes tender for a few days and goes
away. I did happen to do this shortly
before this lump came and I do think its
somehow linked but as with most people,
the presence of a lump anywhere on your
body is incredibly worrying.
The lump itself is very solid, it does
feel like it moves a little but is more or
less firmly attached to the bone. When I
open my jaw it sinks in and you can no
longer feel it. As for size, its hard to
describe, but were talking less than a cm
from top to bottom and much less from side
to side.
Does anyone have any idea what this may
be?
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Tmddyan
Moderator
Joined: 13 Jun 2006 Posts: 4349 Location: post falls, id usa
Thanks: 93
Thanked:63
Posted: 01-03-08 13:32pm
it could be some scar tissue. I know how
worrying something like that can be. I
wouldnt worry about it unless it gets
larger or if it hurts. you could use some
joint and tissue ointment on it and it
would help the overall health of the joint
and the tissuse around it.
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Dawnseven
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 07 Feb 2008 Posts: 1
Posted: 02-07-08 11:15am
I've had the same thing and just got back
the doctor. Specifically what I had was a
bump at the very back of my jawbone next
to my ear lobe. I first noticed it about
6 years ago. It felt like a button or an
m&m under the skin. It was hard and
painless and frankly, pretty easy to
ignore except for the fact that it was
there. A year or so later I went to the
doctor for something else and mentioned
the lump. He felt it and said not to
worry about it. Fast forward 6 years and
over time it's gotten a little bigger.
It's now about the size of a lifesaver and
if I look at myself in a mirror I can
notice a slight bump compared to the other
side. Last week I went to my regular
doctor for something else and mentioned
the bump again. Again I was told it was
probably nothing, but I was given the
option of getting a referral to an ear,
nose & throat doctor
(otolaryngologist) if I wanted. Even
though it doesn't hurt, and has never
hurt, there's a bit of stress involved in
something being there that isn't supposed
to be there. I went to
the ear, nose & throat doctor this
morning and he said what I have is a
"parotid mass". Basically it's a tumor in
the parotid gland (large salivary gland).
He said these are "very rarely cancerous".
(whew!) It is suggested that it be
removed because if left untouched over
time it can grow and eventually affect the
facial nerve or could possibly convert to
cancer so it's best gotten rid of, though
you do have to weigh the risks of that
with the risks of surgery would could also
cause some facial nerve damage. Probably
the best thing to do would be to see an
otolaryngologist and let them take a look.
If it's nothing, or it's something but
it's not worth touching right now (my
understanding is they might opt not to do
anything about lump under 1cm or
something) then he or she will say so.
And if it's something then this is
definitely a case of "an ounce of
prevention is worth a pound of cure". The
good news is, it isn't necessarily bad,
and wouldn't you like not to worry about
it anymore? Best of luck!
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tmjosh
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 11 Feb 2008 Posts: 1
Posted: 02-11-08 14:30pm
It could be a parotid mass, parotitis, or
a cyst in front of your TMJ. I would
suggest talking to your doctor about
having some type of scan(MRI) if possible,
to narrow it down. I am in the middle of
the process, just had an MRI done, because
of a swollen mass right on top of my left
tmj. Painless, sometimes soft, sometimes
hard, came and went for the longest time.
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Tmddyan
Moderator
Joined: 13 Jun 2006 Posts: 4349 Location: post falls, id usa
Thanks: 93
Thanked:63
Posted: 02-11-08 14:53pm
sometimes thats possible. but from what he
is describing i dont think so
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jrc
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 07 Sep 2008 Posts: 1
as to eldor and dawnseven's comments Posted: 09-07-08 22:12pm
eldor i have been able to do the same
thing...cracking the jaw and it sounds
loud and you can hear it in the ear. i am
also in the process of seeing an ENT and
may have to get another catscan. the
first one didn't reflect anything and so
i've been on antibitotics for the past 6
weeks. if there is some progress, i'll
let you know. if you have made progress
(anyone), please let me know.
I went to
the ear, nose & throat doctor this
morning and he said what I have is a
"parotid mass". Basically it's a tumor in
the parotid gland (large salivary gland).
He said these are "very rarely cancerous".
(whew!) It is suggested that it be
removed because if left untouched over
time it can grow and eventually affect the
facial nerve or could possibly convert to
cancer so it's best gotten rid of, though
you do have to weigh the risks of that
with the risks of surgery would could also
cause some facial nerve damage. Probably
the best thing to do would be to see an
otolaryngologist and let them take a look.
If it's nothing, or it's something but
it's not worth touching right now (my
understanding is they might opt not to do
anything about lump under 1cm or
something) then he or she will say so.
And if it's something then this is
definitely a case of "an ounce of
prevention is worth a pound of cure". The
good news is, it isn't necessarily bad,
and wouldn't you like not to worry about
it anymore? 
Best of luck!