Suggest Treatment For Lump On Left Temple Above Cheekbone

Posted on Wed, 4 Feb 2015

Question: I have developed a small lump left temple just above cheekbone. It has sort of come and gone over past 2-3 weeks but a bit larger today. My BP has also increased over same time period. Any correlation?

Answered by Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Enlarged lymph node is possible.

Detailed Answer:
Hello!

Thank you for the query.

There is rather no correlation between this lump and elevated blood pressure.
In this location, lymph node can appear. Especially if you have any bad teeth in this location, recent ear infection, throat infection or eye infection.
Lymph node is usually rounded and movable. Its a kind of hard when palpating it.
There is also a possibility that this lump is a benign lesion of soft tissues. It might be a lipoma or sebaceus cyst. Both do not increase cancer risk. Both can be removed with small incision and local anesthesia.

I suggest you to consult dentist for teeth checkup and laryngologist to see ears and throat condition.

The best way to find out what exactly the lump is, is a soft tissues ultrasound.

Hope this will help. Feel free to ask further questions.
Regards.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj

Follow up: Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (18 minutes later)

I just saw a nurse practioner and she suggested it may be temporal arteritis ? and recommended an MRI. Your thoughts?

Answered by Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (20 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Temporal arteritis is rather hardly possible.

Detailed Answer:
Temporal arteritis is rather hardly possible. This disease develops inside the blood vessels (causes its inflammation and narrowing). Temporal artery is the most common location indeed. But the first and most common symptom is a headache. The next symptom is tenderness of the affected artery. You should also have general symptoms like fever and weakness (same symptoms can be present with any other infection including teeth infection).
And MRI is not the first test which should be done in case of this disease. Dopplers ultrasound is enough to see if the artery is narrow or not. To confirm such diagnosis, artery biopsy is necessary.

Regards.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj

Follow up: Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (47 hours later)

The lump does seem to change in size. Taking ibuprofen seems to be the best cure for the headache that accompanies it. I go see my family doc on Monday. I saw a nurse practicioner who recommended an MRI but that seems a bit of overkill as this stage.

Answered by Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (13 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Dopplers ultrasound of the artery can be done.

Detailed Answer:
Dopplers ultrasound will be the best option in case of temporal arteritis. Especially that you have headache. MRI is not a good idea indeed.

Regards.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad

Follow up: Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (22 hours later)

Is taking 600mg of ibuprofen 3x daily safe?

Answered by Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (3 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Yes it is safe

Detailed Answer:
Yes, such dosage is safe. Just remember to protect your stomach with for example Omeprasole 20mg once a day.

Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T