Q. What is the treatment for swollen lymph nodes behind the ear?

Hello doctor,

I am 58 year old healthy male. I have noticed a firm lump behind right ear (posterior auricular lymph node) four weeks back of a size nearly one centimeter. I have consulted and ENT who said it was a swollen lymph node and was thoroughly examined for other enlarged nodes, infection, lesions or tumours, and found nothing. I have no other symptoms and the ENT specialist asked me to wait for three weeks, and was told in case it does not subside, a biopsy can be needed. After three weeks, the lump was still there, but in reduced size. The ENT doctor then confirmed, that it is significantly smaller and decided not to proceed with biopsy and advised to wait for two months and check it again. It has been four weeks and I am still worried about the lump. I have also developed jock itch, a fungal infection and concerned if it is related. Kindly help.

Thank you.

Hello doctor,

Thank you for the reply.

I would like to share the excerpt from my first consultation with the ENT doctor, I was told that the scalp is bald with the presence of a few small cherry hemangiomas and no other evident lesions. There is the presence of one centimeter, firm, subcutaneous right retroarticular lymph node, that is minimally tender with no skin fixation. The auricles, external auditory canal, and tympanic membranes are normal. The seventh cranial nerve function is intact and symmetrical. Intranasal, oral cavity, oropharyngeal and neck examinations are unremarkable. There is a presence of vascular lesions, like small AVM or hemangioma overlying the right clavicle, that could have been present for more than 10 years. I do not have a conclusion from the second visit, but my doctor said the node has become smaller. Is it safe to wait for two to three months? Kindly suggest.

Thank you.