Occipital lymph nodes and skull lump

[Chronicworrier23]

Hi, I’m waiting on an ultrasound for my 4 month old baby.. noticed two occipital lymph nodes when she was 8 weeks and have never gone down.. feel slightly bigger now but I would still say pea sized. However right in the middle of the back of her skull has also changed.. almost feels like a pointy bone (if that makes sense) which we are also getting scanned. Doctor said most likely structural changes to the skull but with the lump nodes either side of this sticky out “bone” / lump - I’m freaking out! Any advice? Anyone has anything like this that turned out to be nothing? Scaring myself on Google obviously! Thanks xx

Hi OP, my son had the same at a similar age (obvious node at base of skull). I have never had them scanned (my GP who was a paediatrician by trade) didn’t think it necessary, but my DS has had lots of blood tests so the doc has been reassured by that. My DS has nodes on his groin that have always been raised (talking grape sized) but, again, the GP sent us for blood tests and the hospital paeds team said he probably just doesn’t have a lot of fat to cover them (he’s very lean). He also has a node (pea sized) on his collar bone, which caused me great alarm but, again, the blood tests were fine and it has stayed the same size 5 years on from discovery.

I do mention multiple blood tests as my DS has also had petechial rashes (can be indicative of cancer, especially with raised nodes) but always given all clear as no other red flags and bloods were always clear. He also has coeliac disease so is checked every year anyway for that.

Try not to worry - lots and lots of children have obvious nodes that can disappear as they get older and they get more fat padding in those areas. Very rarely it can be something untoward, but fingers crossed all is ok for you 🙂

@Whattodowhattodo246 thsnks so much for your reply and so glad all is ok for your DC. My DD has had many blood tests as she had severe case of jaundice from birth until recently, so has had recurrent blood tests. Perhaps I should be reassured by them? I do unfortunately have massive health anxiety which adds to the difficulty, I think things like “what if dr hasn’t checked the blood results properly?” - but that’s more an issue for me to sort I know that xx

Hi, sorry to jump in because I don't have an answer for you but I think you may have answered something for me! My baby (now 4 months) has had two little lumps at either side of the back of her head since she was very little. They're around about level with the bottom of her ears, but on the back of her head. I pointed one of them out to the GP when she had her check up at 7 weeks - GP thought it was a cyst but didn't think it was anything to worry about. It was only later that day that I realised there was one on either side, as until then I'd thought it was getting mixed up about which side it was on! I've just googled occipital lymph nodes and I think this is where my baby's little lumps are. Do you mind me asking what your GP has said about the occipital lymph nodes? Wondering now if I should take her back 🤔

Hi @lemondropsandchimneytops - sounds exactly like my situation - couldn’t have written it better myself. I mentioned them at 8 week check up too. He said occipital lymph nodes and if they don’t go down in 4 weeks to come back. He said usually reactive to a virus etc, but I knew she hadn’t been unwell. So I’ve got back and now he has referred for ultrasound but more just to be on the safe side I think x