Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum. ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.
Dermatology (Expert Forum)
One sided tonsil grow possibly??
Answered by
Alan Rockoff, MD - dermatology, Child Skin Problems
The Rockoff Dermatology Center
Brookline - MA
Welcome to the DERMATOLOGY FORUM! Questions in this forum are answered by Dermatologists from St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital, under the direction of Andrew Alexis, M.D., M.P.H.
One sided tonsil grow possibly??
by HJR, Jun 23, 2005 12:00AM
Hello,
Approximately a week ago, I noticed that I felt a sensation at the back of my throat that felt as if I was swallowing a hair. Several times I tried touching the area where I felt the sensation with my index finger, but the sensation did not go away.
Just last night, I looked in a mirror and noticed that there is a small evenly shaped lump in the tonsil area. It might be the right tonsil. It doesn't look abnormal. It is smaller than an almond, almond shaped, and convex. It is about the same color as the rest of my throat, maybe very slightly redder. The troubling thing is the other side of my throat looks different. The tonsil area is about the same cirucumfrence, but concave and with more grooves and sections. The left side is more of a cavity, but again about the same circumfrenece.
Could I have infected one tonsil? Does this sound like cancer (lymphoma or squameous cell)? I've also read through a few studies that state that unilateral enlargement of a tonsil absent risk factors for tonsil cancer, grossly abnormal presentation, and an enlarge cervix (neck) area is ususually not cancer. I just don't know what "grossly abnormal presentation" means. And does the difference in shape (convex vs concave) draw suspicion even though the perimiter of the area is somewhat close in size.
Here is one study:
http://www.attract.wales.nhs.uk/question_answers.cfm?question_id=1837
I have none of the risk factors noted in the study.
Of course I will see my doctor today. But I wanted to see if I could get an initial hunch from someone. If you need more descriptive information, please let me know.
I know all if this would need to be evaluated by a pathologist, but I am curious and very concerned and this posting helps with some of my anxieity management. Thanks for your patients with my posting. Oh - one last comment. There is no pain just the funny hairlike sensation which is much less noticible now that a few days ago.
HJR
Approximately a week ago, I noticed that I felt a sensation at the back of my throat that felt as if I was swallowing a hair. Several times I tried touching the area where I felt the sensation with my index finger, but the sensation did not go away.
Just last night, I looked in a mirror and noticed that there is a small evenly shaped lump in the tonsil area. It might be the right tonsil. It doesn't look abnormal. It is smaller than an almond, almond shaped, and convex. It is about the same color as the rest of my throat, maybe very slightly redder. The troubling thing is the other side of my throat looks different. The tonsil area is about the same cirucumfrence, but concave and with more grooves and sections. The left side is more of a cavity, but again about the same circumfrenece.
Could I have infected one tonsil? Does this sound like cancer (lymphoma or squameous cell)? I've also read through a few studies that state that unilateral enlargement of a tonsil absent risk factors for tonsil cancer, grossly abnormal presentation, and an enlarge cervix (neck) area is ususually not cancer. I just don't know what "grossly abnormal presentation" means. And does the difference in shape (convex vs concave) draw suspicion even though the perimiter of the area is somewhat close in size.
Here is one study:
http://www.attract.wales.nhs.uk/question_answers.cfm?question_id=1837
I have none of the risk factors noted in the study.
Of course I will see my doctor today. But I wanted to see if I could get an initial hunch from someone. If you need more descriptive information, please let me know.
I know all if this would need to be evaluated by a pathologist, but I am curious and very concerned and this posting helps with some of my anxieity management. Thanks for your patients with my posting. Oh - one last comment. There is no pain just the funny hairlike sensation which is much less noticible now that a few days ago.
HJR
Doctor's Answer
by Alan Rockoff, MD, Jun 24, 2005 12:00AM
, Jun 24, 2005 12:00AM
Since you probably don't look at the back of your throat that often, you may have trouble identifying what's normal and what's not. I am glad that you are seeing a doctor, if you haven't seen one already. I would think that lymphoma would be a very remote possibility indeed. The sensation is more than likely just irritation from hot food or something like that, though once you started to be anxious about it, no doubt the sensation intensified.
You'll be fine, I'm sure.
Check it out, and take care.
Dr. Rockoff
You'll be fine, I'm sure.
Check it out, and take care.
Dr. Rockoff
Dr. Rockoff
I just received the results yesterday and there was no evidence of carcinoma. There was significant inflammation according to the report, and one-sided (unilateral) inflammation draws suspicion. The ENT told the pathologist that the inflammation was due to "the patient possibly traumatizing the area." That was his nice way of saying that I was poking my throat making a mild problem worse...
Anyway, I wanted to say thank you for this forum. The access to top-level expertise for a nominal donation is tremendous!
HJR
Dr. Rockoff