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What Causes Swollen And Hard Lumps Under The Jaws?
Question: Why the glands under my jaw are hard and never go away?
Since last year i found out that the glands/nodes under my jaw bone are hard and they have the size of a bean. I thought they were from an infection, but a year later they are still there. They are in both sides of the jaw and you can feel them the one next to the other like a chain. An ENT did a clinical exam and told me maybe they are from a tooth problem. He asked if i have enlarged glands in my underarm or groin and I said no and he said i shouldn't worry.
They are so deep under the bone that ordinary people wont even look so deep. I am just very health conscious and i examine everything. Shall i do anything else? Shall i examine it further? I did blood tests last week i have total white blood cells 6000 and lymphocytes 41. I have attached a photo i found online to show you the area that i find the glands.
Since last year i found out that the glands/nodes under my jaw bone are hard and they have the size of a bean. I thought they were from an infection, but a year later they are still there. They are in both sides of the jaw and you can feel them the one next to the other like a chain. An ENT did a clinical exam and told me maybe they are from a tooth problem. He asked if i have enlarged glands in my underarm or groin and I said no and he said i shouldn't worry.
They are so deep under the bone that ordinary people wont even look so deep. I am just very health conscious and i examine everything. Shall i do anything else? Shall i examine it further? I did blood tests last week i have total white blood cells 6000 and lymphocytes 41. I have attached a photo i found online to show you the area that i find the glands.
Brief Answer:
USG (Ultrasound ) Neck.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for your query.
1. Get a USG (Ultrasound ) Neck done. A doppler study will are so help. If the swellings are sore large, a USG guided FNAC (Fine Needle Aspiration Cyrology ) should be done.
2. This will help differentiate between a submandibular salivary gland swelling and submandibular lymph node swelling.
3. If the swellings that you feel are lymph nodes and if these are less than a 8 to 10 mm, they are considered insignificant.
4. The other clinical method is bimannual palpation through the floor of the mouth and outside from the neck. The submandibular salivary gland is ballotable while lymph nodes are not.
5 Lymph nodes are normally not palpable , however once they enlarge in response to inflammation / infection, they rarely regress to their original size and can be felt always.
6. Upload the USG report to discuss further treatment options.
I hope that I have answered your query. If you have any more questions I will be available to answer them.
Regards.
USG (Ultrasound ) Neck.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for your query.
1. Get a USG (Ultrasound ) Neck done. A doppler study will are so help. If the swellings are sore large, a USG guided FNAC (Fine Needle Aspiration Cyrology ) should be done.
2. This will help differentiate between a submandibular salivary gland swelling and submandibular lymph node swelling.
3. If the swellings that you feel are lymph nodes and if these are less than a 8 to 10 mm, they are considered insignificant.
4. The other clinical method is bimannual palpation through the floor of the mouth and outside from the neck. The submandibular salivary gland is ballotable while lymph nodes are not.
5 Lymph nodes are normally not palpable , however once they enlarge in response to inflammation / infection, they rarely regress to their original size and can be felt always.
6. Upload the USG report to discuss further treatment options.
I hope that I have answered your query. If you have any more questions I will be available to answer them.
Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you for your advice.
I went to a general surgeon - a family friend of mine - to ask for an Ultra Sound referral.
I told him my issue with the swollen glands under the jaw, he did a clinical exam and told me that except from the jaw glands i have no other swollen glands in my body. He saw my blood tests and he was happy with them and, he also checked my spleen and liver and he said that they are not enlarged He told me my body seems completely healthy and he didn't see any worrying sign. So he didnt refer me for an Ultra Sound.
He suggested that the small lumps under the jaw are lymph nodes that just didn't return back to normal size after me being sick and might stay like that.
What do you think?
I went to a general surgeon - a family friend of mine - to ask for an Ultra Sound referral.
I told him my issue with the swollen glands under the jaw, he did a clinical exam and told me that except from the jaw glands i have no other swollen glands in my body. He saw my blood tests and he was happy with them and, he also checked my spleen and liver and he said that they are not enlarged He told me my body seems completely healthy and he didn't see any worrying sign. So he didnt refer me for an Ultra Sound.
He suggested that the small lumps under the jaw are lymph nodes that just didn't return back to normal size after me being sick and might stay like that.
What do you think?
Brief Answer:
A Neck USG will help.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for writing back.
1. It is good that you have been examined.
2. A Neck USG will help. Get it done.
3. This does not seem to be major issue.
4. Upload the USG report.
I hope that I have answered your query. If you have any more questions I will be available to answer them.
Regards.
A Neck USG will help.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for writing back.
1. It is good that you have been examined.
2. A Neck USG will help. Get it done.
3. This does not seem to be major issue.
4. Upload the USG report.
I hope that I have answered your query. If you have any more questions I will be available to answer them.
Regards.
Note: Consult an experienced Otolaryngologist / ENT Specialist online for further follow up on ear, nose, and throat issues - Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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