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Dr. Andrew Rynne
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Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Is The Difference Between Mastoiditis And A Lymph Node?

I have a small swollen bump behind the right ear. It is somewhat painful. About pea sized. I did have a cold sore recently that got infected and required antibiotics. Could this just be a swollen lymph node? Or something more serious? My cold sore has been fully resolved for over a week. How can you tell the difference between mastoiditis or lymph node?
Fri, 20 Jul 2018
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Internal Medicine Specialist,  's  Response
Hello and Welcome to ‘Ask A Doctor’ service.
I have reviewed your query and here is my advice.

Probably you may be suffering from post auricular lymph node enlargement. Mastoiditis is the inflammation of hair cells in mastoid process , it may be due to middle ear infection may spread to air cells lead to outward bulging of mastoid process.
It won't look like pea size enlargement it looks like a lemon size outward enlargement. If you have doubt please get it done x ray mastoid process or CT paranasal sinuses may help to diagnose.
So don't worry, use antibiotics still no improvement.

Hope I have answered your query.
Let me know if I can assist you further.
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What Is The Difference Between Mastoiditis And A Lymph Node?

Hello and Welcome to ‘Ask A Doctor’ service. I have reviewed your query and here is my advice. Probably you may be suffering from post auricular lymph node enlargement. Mastoiditis is the inflammation of hair cells in mastoid process , it may be due to middle ear infection may spread to air cells lead to outward bulging of mastoid process. It won t look like pea size enlargement it looks like a lemon size outward enlargement. If you have doubt please get it done x ray mastoid process or CT paranasal sinuses may help to diagnose. So don t worry, use antibiotics still no improvement. Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.