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Children's health

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Original poster

Lump in son’s neck

99 replies

BA36 · 30/11/2021 22:24

I noticed a lump in the lower part of my sons neck last week. I could see it and then felt it, it pushes in when you press it but it’s around a pea-size maybe a bit bigger.
I’ve got health anxiety so am trying not to panic but a week on a it’s still there and I am worried. He’s had a cold for ages and did have a blocked/inflamed ear a couple of weeks ago, should I take him back to the doctor? Looking for some reassurance that it’s normal!

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Hazelmond · 10/02/2022 23:49

Hi OP, I wondered if your doctors has mentioned the possibility of branchial cyst? I believe they appear more often in childhood; mine didn't appear until my early twenties (though I was always prone to throat infections and very raised lymph nodes).

Original poster

BA36 · 11/02/2022 00:09

No they haven’t but I did look it up the other day. His is way under the skin, not near the surface so could that be a cyst?

OP posts:

Hazelmond · 11/02/2022 07:32

@BA36

No they haven’t but I did look it up the other day. His is way under the skin, not near the surface so could that be a cyst?

This website is very helpful for illustrating locations of branchial cysts: www.childrenshospital.org/conditions-and-treatments/conditions/b/branchial-cleft/symptoms-and-causes

As PP have said it sounds like an enlarged lymph node (one that's had to work hard with all of the coughs and colds lately!) but totally understand how anxiety inducing this is X

bigbadgoof · 11/02/2022 18:15

@BA36 I would think the month wait for your son to be seen would indicate they aren't too worried. The waiting is horrid though isn't it. Saw our GP last week and they've referred our daughter for a neck ultra sound but we've not had any correspondence since.

Muchtoomuchtodo · 11/02/2022 18:23

We had similar in the middle of the first lockdown with dc2 who was 11 at the time.

We had blood tests the day after seeing the GP and an ultrasound within 2 weeks. For it all to have happened so quickly in the lockdown really scared me, but it turned out to be an enlarged lymph node.

Good luck next week.

bigbadgoof · 11/02/2022 18:32

@Muchtoomuchtodo was it just the one enlarged node? We haven't been referred for blood tests just an ultra sound. It seems different GPS take different approaches which is a bit confusing. How long had did your child have the lump when you went to the doctor?

Muchtoomuchtodo · 11/02/2022 22:10

They had two, either side of their Adam’s apple. One was bigger than the other and had been present for about 6 weeks when we spoke to and saw the GP (happened on the same day).

bigbadgoof · 12/02/2022 13:16

Have had a letter this morning with an apt confirmed for 22nd so at least know how long will be waiting to be seen now.

Original poster

BA36 · 12/02/2022 13:38

I’ve done lots of research, and from what I can see anything under 2cms isn’t worrying in children. Pea or kidney bean size is normal, so try and hold onto that and just have the scan to confirm! I’ll report back after our scan Wednesday!

OP posts:

RickyZooom · 12/02/2022 13:49

I’ve got a lipoma in my neck. Just a harmless, fatty lump. It could be that.

bigbadgoof · 15/02/2022 17:08

She's saying she is tired today despite a good nights sleep. I feel hyper alert to any potential symptoms.

Original poster

BA36 · 15/02/2022 18:04

How old is your daughter? My two boys seems to only go a week or two without a cough or cold or something at the moment. Its really hard not to worry about everything though, but if it’s a kidney bean size that can be normal? How big would you say it is?

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lookingsusbro · 15/02/2022 19:13

Anecdotal but I found two lumps like you describe in my neck when I was about 9/10, one the size of a pea and the other a little bigger than a marble. They were big enough to be seen when I turned my head to the sidei I was seeing a pediatrician regularly for other issues and they said it was either lipoma or swollen gland and would o ly do further tests if they grew.

I'm 34 now and they're still there though they're much smaller and I can hardly feel them.

bigbadgoof · 15/02/2022 19:30

@BA36 she is three. She has had so many bugs over the last few years and often had really high temperatures. Yes that's right around kidney bean size. Is your son's appointment tomorrow?

Original poster

BA36 · 15/02/2022 20:15

Would you say it’s under 1.5cms wide? It’s normal for young children to get lots of bugs and fevers, had she been ill around the time the lymph node came up?

OP posts:

Original poster

BA36 · 15/02/2022 20:16

Thank you! I’ve been told by a few doctors that they only worry if they keep growing and in children they grow very quickly if they are something with worry about

OP posts:

Original poster

BA36 · 16/02/2022 15:33

Just to update after our scan. We had the scan this morning and everything was fine. The doctor doing the scan said it’s a lymph node, she said they were normal. I asked if they were enlarged and she just said they were normal, the right shape and nothing to worry about. She said it’s just a lymph node doing it’s job.
She showed us that the lymph node which is visible is close to the skin whereas others are all under the muscle which is why it’s more visible.
I got the impression that unless they were really massive they’re not anything to worry about at all.
Hope that puts others minds at ease!
Thank you for all the support x

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Nik84 · 16/02/2022 18:44

My daughter has two pea sized lumps in her neck. She’s now 9 and I first noticed them when she cried as a baby. I was worried and took her to the GP but they weren’t concerned and they never got bigger or had any other symptoms x

Walkingandtalking · 16/02/2022 21:19

My 6 year old has a few bumps in her neck she has had them about 8 or 9 months now i took her to the gp who did a blood test which was normal.
Do your sons look like this?

Original poster

BA36 · 16/02/2022 21:34

Yes his looks like that! Looks like they are very common!

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Maddylee · 14/03/2022 16:03

Hello - I hope you don’t mind me joining the thread. Have found a lump in my daughters neck, under her ear but slightly off side. I took her to the GP today who said she’s has no infection of ear or throat. She has requested bloods and scan. I am very worried.

Rhi11 · 14/03/2022 16:33

It's scary when you find lumps. My lo still has his neck lump since December. He had bloods including blasts under the two week wait and a/w ent ref because been there for longer than 6 weeks.blood work come back all normal . How long has the lump been there?

Maddylee · 14/03/2022 17:51

@Rhi11 I’m so worried, it’s the first thing I think of when I wake up. I first felt it in January but I think it may be more enlarged now. There seems to be 3 nodes all enlarged in the one area. They are definitely the lymph nodes but why only enlarged on one side with no other signs of illness (no sore throat or temperature). I have bloods booked for this Thursday and scan yet to hear back on. Luckily they had a cancellation for bloods otherwise it would be a wait to the 31st. I’m just concerned what is causing them to be enlarged if no illness. I have spent money hours googling - seems to be many posts on mumsnet but I haven’t see any stories of anything sinister which I hope is a good thing ??

Original poster

BA36 · 14/03/2022 18:16

Viruses can also cause lymph nodes to swell. Has your daughter had covid recently? My son’s swelled up in November, he had a mild inflamed ear but then just was exploded to general bugs (he had a bit of a cough and sniffles but not even unwell). He then had covid at Christmas. He’s been fine for 6 weeks now and it’s still there. He had a scan on it and the doctor doing it said it was normal and just a lymph node doing it’s job.
I totally understand how worrying it is, I was beside myself at times and convinced it was serious.
I did speak to a consultant through my private healthcare and was told that under 2cms they are almost certainly benign. Also cancer in children develops quickly and the lumps would be growling rapidly.
Is she otherwise well? No fatigue or night sweats?

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Maddylee · 14/03/2022 18:43

Hi @BA36 No she hasn’t had covid which I’m surprised at as there was a few other cases at her nursery. She does have a cough at the moment which I thought might be causing the swelling but she hasn’t had it since January which is when I first noticed the glands were larger than normal. No other symptoms, no sweats, bruising and she always has lots of energy. The dr today did mention she was ‘too well’ to be ill. But doesn’t stop me worrying. I’ve been worrying all weekend. Good to hear what your consultant said. Perhaps my daughters feels larger as it’s 2 or 3 grouped together that are enlarged.

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