Submandibular lymph node enlargement?

Lindsey123 · New User Joined: 02 Nov 2006 Posts: 2

I am curious to know if there are certain neck lymph nodes that enlarge with non-hodgkins? My left submandibular lymph node feels a bit larger then the other one and it's making me nervous. It's further complicated by the fact that I had some plastic surgery on my chin (an implant), nose, and also had neck liposuction in that area as well as a neck lift. The surgery was done 2.75 years ago and I noticed the flat raised area over this node about a year after that (it takes about that long for swelling to settle after surgery). I did have complications with my chin implant and neck surgery and developed a large hematoma on the right side and had fluid aspiration by needle from both sides for a few weeks afterwards.

I have seen my docs since then for sinus infections, etc. and have had these glands palpated without alarm bells being raised. The only one who felt that gland longer was an OB/GYN at Hopkins who was examining me before this past June's surgery to remove a benign tubal cyst and tubal ligation. She took care feeling the area but didn't remark to me about it During this surgery, they did a thorough exam of my abdomen up to my gall bladder and said all looked really healthy. I've had two CBCs done in the past year, both coming back normal.

I've had no other symptoms except for tiredness that seems to by cyclical (PMS related) as it disappears when I get my period, only to return for ten days prior (along with mild depression - lovely Smile

) I do have mild asthma which I seem to have passed on to my daughter. This was a late diagnosis, in the past couple years. My daughter has been asthmatic since birth and it does run in the family.

I don't know what to think about this gland. I've read that submandibular glands (under chin between jaw and ear) can usually be felt. It's not a lump, it feels like the other one, same shape but simply higher up. It moves freely and doesn't feel hard. My friend's husband, a surgeon, gave them a brief feel Halloween and felt they seemed normal which is reassuring. However this past surgery left me shell-shocked (they thought it might be ovarian cancer) and I admit to feeling rather paranoid. I plan to ask either my dermatologist or gynecologist to check it out in a couple weeks when I go in just in case. I don't know if I have another biopsy in me without Xanax or booze!!!

So I guess my question is for those who were diagnosed with lymphoma, is it usually the clavicular glands that enlarge or the submandibular?

Lindsey123 · New User Joined: 02 Nov 2006 Posts: 2

Went to the doc today and she said even though the lump is in an area that has lymph nodes, the lump is freely moveable and lymphs in that area of my neck are not (apparently it's not submandibular which is fine). She says it feels like a lipoma (fat ball) and told me to follow up with my plastic surgeon who might want to ultrasound to confirm. It is definitely freely moveable. She said the fact that it has not changed in size for over a year and isn't fixed in place are pretty indicative of scar tissue or lipomas. Given that I had lipo in that area, then had complications, then had ultrasound treatments at my PS office because lipomas can form, it seems reasonable to assume that's what happened. I've got a Mon. afternoon appt. and should know more then.

Still and all, it's still very scary, is it not?

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