Inconclusive FNA: is it still possible to have indolent lymphoma?

In March I discovered a lump on my right clavicle. In July I finally decided to see my  family physician about this and he seemed to feel it was a "reactive lymph node" and prescribed a course of Keflex but he was not happy with the location of the enlarged node. After completing the antibiotics the node was still palpable and had not diminished in size w/ a WBC of 14.4 so I was referred to an ENT for evaluation. As a result of this consultation I had a CT Scan of the neck w/ contrast that showed "extensive lymphadnopathy" (some of the larger nodes were supraclavicular- right, subpectoral-bilateral, jugulodigastric-bilateral and the nodes where between 1.6 & 1.8 cm) and referred for a Chest CT which showed "abnormal appearing" bilateral axillary lymph nodes. I've had a FNA which was inconclusive and my WBC has been bouncing between 14 & 20 with a platelet count of 636,000. My ENT has recommended that I wait three months and have repeat CT Scans. Is this a standard approach to a situation such as mine or should I be more aggressive and ask for further testing now?

[GeezLouize75]

I would ask for more testing NOW!  When there is a possibility of cancer, nip it in the bud immediately!!

[iam1butterfly]

I think that it's probably standard... especially, if the physician isn't particularly alarmed by what he sees or feels in regard to the lymph node.

But, I would have expected maybe the suggestion of a surgical/ excisional biopsy of the lymph as another option. A few years ago, my mother had a FNA of a swollen lymph node on her throat... the results of that procedure were inconclusive... so, a surgical biopsy was then recommended and that pathology report returned positive for Hodgkin's Disease.

By their nature, surgical/ excisional biopsies are more invasive and more costly to perform. But, I'm convinced that such biopsies render better samplings of tissue and therefore offer  more conclusive pathology findings when needle aspiration biopsies are in question.
If the 3 month wait for the follow up CT scan has you worried, ask about a surgical biopsy as an immediate alternative.

Hope this helps.

[june70]

Please accept my sincere apologies for my delayed response! I've been battling a wicked bout of bronchitis and haven't been online in days!
GeezLouize75 & iam1butterfly, thank you both for your prompt responses. I have scheduled an appt. next week with my ENT to discuss the merits of an excisional biopsy.