Hello. About 6 months ago I noticed a small lump, about 1 cm in diameter, around where the submandibular lymph nodes are supposed to be, just under my jaw line, halfway between my chin and ear on the left side. It is firm, smooth, non-tender, and most interestingly, fixed into the muscle. Note that it is not technically enlarged according to most standards I've read about.
I found something "similar" on the other side, so I did not think much of it, just watched it closely. Last week, I decided that it would be worth a doctor visit. The doctor examined it and found that I had to flex my neck muscles, the same action you do to push your lower jaw away from your face, in order to feel it at all (make it palpable). Pushing on the area when the muscles are un-flexed reveals almost nothing, it feels like it is not there; when flexed, you can feel it easily and note that it does not move. The doctor's conclusion was that it was a lymph node, but that since it is so small and that it has not grown since I first found it months ago, it really wasn't much to worry about. None of the other lymph nodes were unusual, nor do I have any symptoms to suggest more sinister possibilities.
I was, in any case, displeased with the doctor's willingness to brush it off. According to every article I have found on the internet, fixed lumps in the neck should always be given their due attention. I plan on going to see a Ear / Nose / Throat specialist without referral (if I can find one to do such a thing), but in the meantime, after playing with it some more, I have a suspicion it may be something else. I know the submandibular saliva gland's position is located very near where this little bump is, except inside the muscles, and I do not know if any part of it may protrude through the muscle, or perhaps a cyst has grown through the muscle (???). Does anyone have any idea about the best course of action, given my description here? I'd much appreciate it.