Posterior Cervical Lymph Nodes

[martonius]

A little over a year ago, I discovered three small lumps in my neck.  I started to get anxious about them, so I decided to go to the doctors.  He said that I had a few slightly enlarged posterior cervical lymph nodes and they were probably due to a recent cold or virus.  A few months later they were still around the same size so I went back.  He told me they were around 1cm (though they felt larger to me) and that I should keep an eye on them to see if they get larger, and that sometimes they can become permanently enlarged.  Well, it's been over a year and as far as I can tell, they haven't gotten any larger, but I can still easily feel them.

The thing that bothers me is that I read about this particular lymph node group, and almost every site I look at says that if the Posterior Lymph Nodes become enlarged, it is commonly due to malignancies, leukemia, or lymphoma.

I am a 25 year old male.  I've had no fever, night sweats, or any other symptom besides the lymph nodes.  I've had blood work done on two separate occasions, which have both been fine.  I've also had a monospot, HIV test, and TB test, also OK.  

I've just had a bit of anxiety lately, and have grown a little concerned over this.

Any advice would be helpful.

Thanks!

[tomareza]

Hi I hv a 2.5yr old boy.he has swollen lymph nodes in his post cervicle and in the groin region.sometimes in the post auricular region too. Those were present for last 1yr.sometimes they become small in size.they are firm easily movable and non tender.recently there is another lymph node in the post triangle just in front of the trapizius.it may be the lower chain of post cervicle.my babys blood count is normal .tc was 8500 and lymphocyte was6500 and neutrophil was 1500.he is not so healthy but does not hv fever.rather he has itching in his scalp and occasional cold in winter.his LDH is480.other LFT were normal.do I need to worry.my spc said these r normal upto 8yrs.n of course those r not visible.only when I palpate they increase in size.plz quickly ans.

[jwhitaker2009]

My neck was suddenly swollen in the posterior clavical area within just a few days. I went to doctor. She said it was a lipoma and to keep an eye on it. I have been sick for the last two weeks with sinus and upper respiratory stuff and now it has enlarged and my neck and shoulder hurt. Any idea what I should do, if anything?

[tomareza]

Can anyone leave a ans of my questions

[tomareza]

Hi I hv a 2.5yr old boy.he has swollen lymph nodes in his post cervicle and in the groin region.sometimes in the post auricular region too. Those were present for last 1yr.sometimes they become small in size.they are firm easily movable and non tender.recently there is another lymph node in the post triangle just in front of the trapizius.it may be the lower chain of post cervicle.my babys blood count is normal .tc was 8500 and lymphocyte was6500 and neutrophil was 1500.he is not so healthy but does not hv fever.rather he has itching in his scalp and occasional cold in winter.his LDH is480.other LFT were normal.do I need to worry.my spc said these r normal upto 8yrs.n of course those r not visible.only when I palpate they increase in size.plz quickly ans.

[mike9111]

Hey nyla how didnit end up for you? Any changes and how big

[nyla123]

No. I've honest been too scared, but it's gotten so much bigger that it's def time. Should I just press dr for a biopsy? What could cause it to be large but still grow? Hopefully it's just a fluke thing & im still healthy. Fingers crossed. How do you suggest I approach? I'm so scared- I don't want to drag this on.
Thank you again for your help!

[Teeshaait]

Can u leave a comment please on my post

[Teeshaait]

Hi question my daughter is 6 has enlarged lymph nodes for 5 years done bloods they are good done ultrsound she has fatty hills which is good but I'm still not happy and scared why has she had these so long they have going a little bigger 1 is 18x8mm and other is 11x6mm she has not been sick and is healthy girl she does suffer from night sweats that's about it on ultrsound it just says bilateral anterior and posterior cervical lymph nodes ,likely reactive??

[Ken_PA]

Hi, Nyla. Sorry to hear that it's grown, but that doesn't necessarily mean cancer, if it's still not very big.

Have you scheduled another sonogram?

[nyla123]

My lymph node has grown... what to do now?

[ancalungu]

hello, 4 days ago,my lymph nodes got swollen suddenly on back neck both sides( 4 on 1 side 2 on the other )& other 2 groin area. the left side it was very painful, but now after antibiotics and anti inflammatory it's ok. blood test LDH was elevated 395, & neutrophils 79. 2days ago I had a little fever 37.7  for a few hours & otherwise it was stable 36.9. I didn't lose weight& I don't sweat at night. can it be something serious? thank you

[nyla123]

Thank you for everything.
Great idea.

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year.

I will be back if for any reason there are any changes

[Ken_PA]

I'm glad it turned out well for you. (Don't keep rubbing it or it will get a little bigger just from irritation.)

I'd cancel next week's sono, that's just a source of more stress and is meaningless. Yes, it can get a little larger from immune reaction; maybe 1.5cm is tops but that depends on your own size. I wouldn't expect someone 6'5" to have the same size nodes as someone 5' tall, e.g.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. You now have your own cheerful holiday story.

[nyla123]

I'm finally ready to relax unless it becomes visible by looking at my neck. Thoughts?

Thank you for the wealth of info you have provided.

[nyla123]

Back from the surgeon. He is not concerned. He said he saw the fatty hilum on the disc, too. That seems like a good sign.

He just reiterated that it does not look anything but benign and said even if it were to grow larger, he doesn't think that is necessarily cancerous.

It must be that he rarely sees it when doing biopsies. All good news.
Other Dr. still wants me to do another ultrasound. Surgeon didn't think it was necessary.

[Ken_PA]

"Does it make a difference that two are swollen instead of one? "
I don't think so.

"Also, when I discussed the fatty hilum with the doctor he said that wouldn't show on ultrasound. That doesn't seem right?"

No, it is not right. You can even search this forum and find people posting their sono reports mentioning the hilum.

Let me know what the surgeon says. Good luck :)

[nyla123]

Also, when I discussed the fatty hilum with the doctor he said that wouldn't show on ultrasound. That doesn't seem right?


You know, this stuff is hopefully and probably nothing... but it is awful scary - so thank you again.

[nyla123]

Well yesterday was the first day anything was ready and today they are allowing me to pick the stuff up.
Thats a great idea to call the radiologist.

Does it make a difference that two are swollen instead of one?

Going to a surgeon this morning because they see this stuff all the time, I thought I'd 1) line up someone if i need them and 2) get his opinion
Other than that we are going to wait a week and then do another ultrasound so maybe best to do it someplace else where the radiologist is more detailed.
Also, chest xray was clear - thank goodness.
thoughts?

[Ken_PA]

Well, I've been saying to get a copy of the report, but now I give up repeating :)

I've also said that the actual images are useless (to anyone but a radiologist).


I once saw a GP say to call the radiologist - though he also said they never get calls from patients and don't quite know how to field the call. I'd ask for details on "benign appearing".

[nyla123]

Just got off the phone with the doctor.
Still waiting on chest X-ray.

I have two lymph nodes swollen. They disregarded one due to size but I still think it's rather large (0.2 x 0.7 x 0.8) and then the other one is said to be 0.7 x 0.3 x 1.2
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THIS MEANS!

Allegedly, it is "benign appearing" no mention of the fatty hilum. I asked, he didn't have an answer because I guess the report must be vague.
How do I get that information?
I am picking up the disc tomorrow, but I don't know what I am looking for.

Instead of feeling better I feel worse. Is two swollen ones more indicative of an infection or of something more serious such as lymphoma or leukemia? Why won't anyone run bloodwork?

Do you or anyone have any suggestions or answers?

[Ken_PA]

Yes, kidney bean shape is fine.

Your doc does not look at the scan images, they read the report from the radiologist. So can you.

Yes, everybody says 'good luck'.

[nyla123]

Just called to get it faxed over to the doctors and the lady goes "okay, good luck to you."
Jeeezzz... I hope she just says that to everyone.
Guess I'll have some info soon

[nyla123]

Yes, I only go to Lyme literate docs now. But before when I was told it wasn't Lyme, I didn't know to go to one.

It feels to me that it is not necessarily long and thin but it is longer than it is wide. Like an oval or a fat pill... kidney bean.
Called both docs - they haven't received the scans yet.

So the structure ... I should be hoping for a preserved fatty hilum? is that easy for the doctor to see?
Thanks for the well wishes, info & positivity!
Nervously waiting...

[Ken_PA]

I'm assuming your node as seen on the scan is an okay shape - i.e., bean shaped. Long and thin would be worrisome, or lobed or otherwise irregular.

I'm also assuming it is in fact a node, not a cyst or lipoma.