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Hi, I Have 2 Enlarged Lymph Nodes, One On Each

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Posted on Mon, 4 Jan 2021
Question: hi,
I have 2 enlarged lymph nodes, one on each side of my neck, level 2, submandibular. One measures 1.7x2.4x.8cm and the other measures 3.5x2.5x.8cm.

They were first found on an MRI on Nov 2, 2020. The findings said: Incidental note is made of multiple lymph nodes within soft tissue neck with the largest one at
level 2 greater on the right side of unknown clinical significance and may be due to cervical
adenitis. The largest lymph node measures about 1.5 cm in diameter located medial to the
sternocleidomastoid muscle

Then, I had a neck ultrasound which said: Scanning was performed in the areaS of palpable abnormality bilaterally. Prominent elongated lymph
node is seen in the right measuring 3.5 x 2.5 x 0.8 cm. A prominent elongated lymph node is seen in
the left measuring 2.4 x 1.7 x 0.8 cm.

IMPRESSION: Palpable abnormalities correspond to elongated bilateral lymph nodes with normal
architecture.

After the MRI, my doctor said they wanted to do a biopsy to rule out lymphoma and that an ultrasound could not definitely tell us whether they were benign or malignant. After the ultrasound, they said I’m fine and there’s no need to do a biopsy.

The other symptoms I have are fatigue and some days I feel dizzy all day, but I have other inner ear problems that might be causing the dizziness. I also have an arachnoid cyst but I was evaluated by a neurosurgeon and they said not to worry about it but we are watching it to make sure it is stable.

So now I’m confused because my doctor said I need a biopsy to rule out lymphoma, but then they ruled out lymphoma without doing the biopsy. I’d really like a second opinion on this. I’m female, 27 years old.

Thanks for any help you can offer.
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Follow up: Dr. Hardik Sanghvi (0 minute later)
hi,
I have 2 enlarged lymph nodes, one on each side of my neck, level 2, submandibular. One measures 1.7x2.4x.8cm and the other measures 3.5x2.5x.8cm.

They were first found on an MRI on Nov 2, 2020. The findings said: Incidental note is made of multiple lymph nodes within soft tissue neck with the largest one at
level 2 greater on the right side of unknown clinical significance and may be due to cervical
adenitis. The largest lymph node measures about 1.5 cm in diameter located medial to the
sternocleidomastoid muscle

Then, I had a neck ultrasound which said: Scanning was performed in the areaS of palpable abnormality bilaterally. Prominent elongated lymph
node is seen in the right measuring 3.5 x 2.5 x 0.8 cm. A prominent elongated lymph node is seen in
the left measuring 2.4 x 1.7 x 0.8 cm.

IMPRESSION: Palpable abnormalities correspond to elongated bilateral lymph nodes with normal
architecture.

After the MRI, my doctor said they wanted to do a biopsy to rule out lymphoma and that an ultrasound could not definitely tell us whether they were benign or malignant. After the ultrasound, they said I’m fine and there’s no need to do a biopsy.

The other symptoms I have are fatigue and some days I feel dizzy all day, but I have other inner ear problems that might be causing the dizziness. I also have an arachnoid cyst but I was evaluated by a neurosurgeon and they said not to worry about it but we are watching it to make sure it is stable.

So now I’m confused because my doctor said I need a biopsy to rule out lymphoma, but then they ruled out lymphoma without doing the biopsy. I’d really like a second opinion on this. I’m female, 27 years old.

Thanks for any help you can offer.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Hardik Sanghvi (32 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
You should go for further investigation.

Detailed Answer:
Hi, dear
I have gone through your question and findings.
I can understand your concern.

You have multiple lymphnodes enlargement in sub mandibular region.

It can be due to reactive hyperplasia as a result of some infection. Or it can be due to lymphoma or some other pathology also.

Imagine modalities like sonography or MRI are not helpful to know the cause. They are accurate in size and location.

You may go for fine needle aspiration cytology or biopsy to know the exact cause.

Fine needle aspiration cytology is easy and simple procedure but it is less accurate then biopsy.

So in my opinion you should go for biopsy of that lymphnode. That will give you exact diagnosis.

Hope I have answered your question.
If you have any doubt then feel free to ask. I will be happy to answer.
Thanks for using health care magic.
Wish you a very good health.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj
doctor
doctor
Answered by Dr. Hardik Sanghvi (0 minute later)
Brief Answer:
You should go for further investigation.

Detailed Answer:
Hi, dear
I have gone through your question and findings.
I can understand your concern.

You have multiple lymphnodes enlargement in sub mandibular region.

It can be due to reactive hyperplasia as a result of some infection. Or it can be due to lymphoma or some other pathology also.

Imagine modalities like sonography or MRI are not helpful to know the cause. They are accurate in size and location.

You may go for fine needle aspiration cytology or biopsy to know the exact cause.

Fine needle aspiration cytology is easy and simple procedure but it is less accurate then biopsy.

So in my opinion you should go for biopsy of that lymphnode. That will give you exact diagnosis.

Hope I have answered your question.
If you have any doubt then feel free to ask. I will be happy to answer.
Thanks for using health care magic.
Wish you a very good health.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Hardik Sanghvi (42 hours later)
Thank you for your answer. So it is possible then to have a lymph node show "normal architecture" on an ultrasound and still be malignant? Also, is it possible then for the lymph nodes to be this size but not be cancerous? What are the odds of them being enlarged from a benign cause? I don't feel ill and the lymph nodes themselves are painless but moveable. It's also strange to me that they are this size but are not protruding very much. They're large but sort of flat. Does that happen with malignant nodes? I had a negative COVID test in October. No other serious symptoms really.
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Follow up: Dr. Hardik Sanghvi (0 minute later)
Thank you for your answer. So it is possible then to have a lymph node show "normal architecture" on an ultrasound and still be malignant? Also, is it possible then for the lymph nodes to be this size but not be cancerous? What are the odds of them being enlarged from a benign cause? I don't feel ill and the lymph nodes themselves are painless but moveable. It's also strange to me that they are this size but are not protruding very much. They're large but sort of flat. Does that happen with malignant nodes? I had a negative COVID test in October. No other serious symptoms really.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Hardik Sanghvi (12 hours later)
Brief Answer:
It can be benign or malignant. Both possibilities are there.

Detailed Answer:
Hi, dear

It is possible that ultrasound shows normal architecture and still it can be malignant. Moreover large size lymphnode can be benign also due to reactive hyperplasia or some other pathology.

Mostly these lymphnode are painless and not protuding out side. So these are common findings

These are pathological diagnosis. Ultrasound findings are not much helpful for finding cause with accuracy.

Covid has no relationship with these. So don't worry about that.

So better you should go for fine needle aspiration cytology or biopsy.

Hope I have answered your questions. If you still have any doubt then feel free to ask. I will be happy to answer. Thanks for using health care magic. Wish you a very good health.


Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj
doctor
doctor
Answered by Dr. Hardik Sanghvi (0 minute later)
Brief Answer:
It can be benign or malignant. Both possibilities are there.

Detailed Answer:
Hi, dear

It is possible that ultrasound shows normal architecture and still it can be malignant. Moreover large size lymphnode can be benign also due to reactive hyperplasia or some other pathology.

Mostly these lymphnode are painless and not protuding out side. So these are common findings

These are pathological diagnosis. Ultrasound findings are not much helpful for finding cause with accuracy.

Covid has no relationship with these. So don't worry about that.

So better you should go for fine needle aspiration cytology or biopsy.

Hope I have answered your questions. If you still have any doubt then feel free to ask. I will be happy to answer. Thanks for using health care magic. Wish you a very good health.


Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Hardik Sanghvi (40 hours later)
Hi again, did you mean that benign lymph nodes usually are painless and don’t protrude or malignant ones? Since your last response, I’ve had an appointment with a hematologist who did a physical examination and looked over my records and said there’s nothing that he thinks needs to be biopsied. He isn’t concerned about malignancy because I don’t have an enlarged spleen or any other symptoms. It has been my understanding that those kind of symptoms of lymphoma don’t occur until after the disease has spread to become stage 3 or 4, so I’d obviously want to rule out a malignancy before it reaches that point. I don’t necessarily think there’s definitely something wrong at this point, I just feel like there’s still too much uncertainty. Should I insist on the biopsy?
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Follow up: Dr. Hardik Sanghvi (0 minute later)
Hi again, did you mean that benign lymph nodes usually are painless and don’t protrude or malignant ones? Since your last response, I’ve had an appointment with a hematologist who did a physical examination and looked over my records and said there’s nothing that he thinks needs to be biopsied. He isn’t concerned about malignancy because I don’t have an enlarged spleen or any other symptoms. It has been my understanding that those kind of symptoms of lymphoma don’t occur until after the disease has spread to become stage 3 or 4, so I’d obviously want to rule out a malignancy before it reaches that point. I don’t necessarily think there’s definitely something wrong at this point, I just feel like there’s still too much uncertainty. Should I insist on the biopsy?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Hardik Sanghvi (6 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Only biopsy can give final confirmation.

Detailed Answer:
Hi, dear I can understand your concern.

Benign or malignant both can be painless. So from symptoms we can not rule out. If you have gone for clinical examination and hematologist are sure that there is nothing to worry about lymphoma then there is high chance of benign lymph nodes. But it is very difficult to say from report whether it is benign or malignant.

Even if it is benign biopsy will give you exact diagnosis what kind of benign lesion it is. Whether it is reactive hyperplasia or some other benign pathology. So if you want sure diagnosis then go for biopsy.

Thanks for using health care magic.
Wish you a very good health.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D
doctor
doctor
Answered by Dr. Hardik Sanghvi (0 minute later)
Brief Answer:
Only biopsy can give final confirmation.

Detailed Answer:
Hi, dear I can understand your concern.

Benign or malignant both can be painless. So from symptoms we can not rule out. If you have gone for clinical examination and hematologist are sure that there is nothing to worry about lymphoma then there is high chance of benign lymph nodes. But it is very difficult to say from report whether it is benign or malignant.

Even if it is benign biopsy will give you exact diagnosis what kind of benign lesion it is. Whether it is reactive hyperplasia or some other benign pathology. So if you want sure diagnosis then go for biopsy.

Thanks for using health care magic.
Wish you a very good health.
Note: Do you have more questions on diagnosis or treatment of blood disorders? Ask An Expert/ Specialist Now

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D
doctor
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Dr. Hardik Sanghvi

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Hi, I Have 2 Enlarged Lymph Nodes, One On Each

hi, I have 2 enlarged lymph nodes, one on each side of my neck, level 2, submandibular. One measures 1.7x2.4x.8cm and the other measures 3.5x2.5x.8cm. They were first found on an MRI on Nov 2, 2020. The findings said: Incidental note is made of multiple lymph nodes within soft tissue neck with the largest one at level 2 greater on the right side of unknown clinical significance and may be due to cervical adenitis. The largest lymph node measures about 1.5 cm in diameter located medial to the sternocleidomastoid muscle Then, I had a neck ultrasound which said: Scanning was performed in the areaS of palpable abnormality bilaterally. Prominent elongated lymph node is seen in the right measuring 3.5 x 2.5 x 0.8 cm. A prominent elongated lymph node is seen in the left measuring 2.4 x 1.7 x 0.8 cm. IMPRESSION: Palpable abnormalities correspond to elongated bilateral lymph nodes with normal architecture. After the MRI, my doctor said they wanted to do a biopsy to rule out lymphoma and that an ultrasound could not definitely tell us whether they were benign or malignant. After the ultrasound, they said I’m fine and there’s no need to do a biopsy. The other symptoms I have are fatigue and some days I feel dizzy all day, but I have other inner ear problems that might be causing the dizziness. I also have an arachnoid cyst but I was evaluated by a neurosurgeon and they said not to worry about it but we are watching it to make sure it is stable. So now I’m confused because my doctor said I need a biopsy to rule out lymphoma, but then they ruled out lymphoma without doing the biopsy. I’d really like a second opinion on this. I’m female, 27 years old. Thanks for any help you can offer.