A biopsy would show any abnormal tissue in the tonsils, but what about that lymph node? It sounds like they think the swollen lymph node is due to mono. If it doesn't go away, ask your doctor (or a different one) again why not?
Dr. Enoch Choi, MD
Palo Alto, CA
Hi AJ,
I've had the same issues, except with adenoids. My ENT told me the exact same thing and I asked him directly if I needed a lymph node excision. Your swollen lymph nodes may take a long time to go down because of the inflammation from your tonsils. I'm also guessing you're palpating them every day, which you should NOT be doing. Gently touching once a day is fine and I put emphasis on gently.
I believe I had the same thing as you did (mono), however my monospot test was negative. Unfortunately those tests aren't very reliable and I never did an EBV titer. I freaked out about HIV for 6 months and received test after test and they all came back negative.
Gigantic tonsils and lymph tissue are a common sign of mono, and unfortunately the symptoms of mono can last up to 6 months. So I wouldn't be overly concerned about your node.
I went to the ENT again last week and questioned why he doesn't think that a biopsy required. He advised me that when they removed my tonsils, they were sent for pathology and that Lymphoma would have shown up in my tonsils and it did not. Is this necessarily true?
Thanks!
if the lymph nodes are getting bigger in any way, it's worth getting a biopsy or asking your doctor why they're not concerned...