Swollen nodes, CT scan... help - Lymphomas Message Board

apple123 · 02-19-2005, 08:29 PM

I recently had a bad case of mono (about 11 months) ago. Since then, I have only gradually gotten better, and have had on and off problems (low-grade fevers, recurrent sore throats, colds, fatigue every now and then).

In Dec., I noticed what seemed to be a small lymph node on the left side of my neck. Of course, I kept playing with it, squeezing it and poking it. Then, I poked around on the right side of my neck, and sure enough... found another one. Then, I took a mirror and starting looking at my neck, and noticed a little lump behind my left ear (which is soft such that it can't be felt as easily as seen). The nodes are not exactly soft, but they are also not hard... they are smooth and somewhat firm... but, they can be squished flat... if this makes any sense.

I went to the PCP, who did a pretty extensive series of blood tests, WBC with diff, thyroid, and some others that I can't remember. She also did Epstein Barr. I got a call about a week later saying that my bloodwork all came back normal, except for the Epstein Barr, which was "elevated." They sent me for a CT scan of the neck.

The results of the CT scan say "enlarged digastric jugular lymph node on the left side" and "another on the right in the upper normal limits" and "additionally, there is some prominence of the adenoids and palatine tonsils." It goes on to give the differential diagnoses... which, of course, include lymphoma and leukemia.

I have a referral to an ENT. I am very panicked, but I don't want to have unnecessary and invasive tests if I really don't need to. I am thinking of just asking the ENT to biopsy every lymph node that he can find, and then take out my tonsils and adenoids.

I have read about the connection between EBV and lymphoma (which I also understand that 90% of the population has been exposed to EBV, so wouldn't it stand to reason that the connection between EBV and lymphoma is incidental?). Nonetheless, now I have convinced myself that I have cancer... This is all very stressful... I have two babies, and I want to make sure I am around for them.

I would very much appreciate support/information/comments/opinions from anyone who has gone through this testing, has had similar symptoms/problems, and what to expect.

Thank you...!

Marimac · 02-19-2005, 09:27 PM

Usually, the ENT will biopsy the largest node available, that will not likely cause any bleeding problems, or nerve problems. A lot of times other antibiotics will be prescribed and a wait and watch approach will be taken. If the ENT does do a biopsy, and it comes back positive for cancer, there is still a likelihood of taking a wait and watch approach if there are not othe symptoms occurring. Hopefully your nodes are just reactive to the Mono, and maybe that is the size that they will be from now on. Good luck

apple123 · 02-21-2005, 06:04 AM

Thank you so very much for your reply... the lymph node behind my ear is getting gradually bigger (over the last week), so I'm getting more nervous.

What do you know about the EBV and lymphoma connection? I am interested in how/why/if, and have found so much conflicting information.

Marimac · 02-21-2005, 07:23 AM

Most of the research merely links one to the other. The reasons are varied. Of course if every one who has mono, goes to the doctor because they have flu symptoms and swollen glands, the likelyhood of catching lymphoma will be increased. There is a percentage of people out there who do not go to the doctor for flu symptoms and swollen glands and just sweat it out so to speak for financial reasons or just don't go to doctors on principle. They too may or may not have lymphoma. So the research is skewed to " if you have swollen glands, it MAY, be linked to lymphoma, and maybe not.
The bottom line is that lymphoma is a cancer of the lymph system, not the blood system, and cancer is the condition of where the deformed or dying cells do not die off properly and start to reproduce deformed, ineffective cells, which if left unchecked, eventually replace healthy tissues which eventually wipes out the body. So, the connections to viruses, environmental poisons, and genetic code alterations are all considerations, and I personally do not believe that it is any one thing, but a combination of things and added stress which lowers the function of the immune system to get rid of the defective cells. So, the bottom line is to try not to distress yourself while waiting. This will help you to fight this disease until you know the results. Good luck.

apple123 · 02-25-2005, 01:51 PM

The left node is almost 2cm (per the CT scan), and there is a smaller one below it that I can feel, but was not indicated on the CT... there are a few others in the "posterior triangle," but not clinically enlarged. I visited the ENT, who treated me a bit like I was paranoid. He said he couldn't feel anything, but I can still feel them (and see them very slightly when I turn my head, but I am fairly thin).

Nonetheless, he is going to remove my tonsils based on the fact that they are slightly enlarged and I have had recurrent sore throats this past year (like one moderate one per month, and a really bad one almost every other month).

I'm feeling very disoriented in this process. Once I get online and start reading things, I get paranoid...

I've read that the jugular digastric lymph nodes drain the tonsillar area... does this sound like I have "clogged" (if there is such a thing) lymph nodes from all of my infections? And, the elevated EBV... Could it be an infection or virus? Tonsillitis? But, my WBC was normal... wouldn't the WBC indicate an infection, even a latent one?

Should I see an infectious disease doctor?? Another ENT?? A hematologic (sp?) doctor??

I'm really confused (and scared), at this point. Any advice would be appreciated.