What causes painful lump on the neck?
Patient: my granddaughter has a lump to the left back of her neck that is progressivly getting bigger, it is painful to touvh for her but not excrutiating. he md said it is a lymph node but me beeing an er nurse, dont believe that is what it is, becuase it is not going away, just getting bigger and the location of it is not anywhere near the lymph nodes, and it is painfull to touch, what should we do? Doctor: Hi.Thanks for your query and an elucidate history.Very nice to know that an ER Nurse is asking the query and the medical language you used is really great. Well, you are absolutely correct, this is the rare site to have a lymph node. I hope she (granddaughter) id already out on the correct antibiotic and anti-inflammatory medicines as per her weight and severity of the condition. Please give it for 7 days minimum.GO for ultrasonography and FNAC=fine needle aspiration cytology. Both these investigation will definitely support the diagnosis. If this is non-specific infection in origin and a lymph node - please continue medicines for 3 weeks and the problem will be solved. If this is not a lymph node, it would be wise to get the lump excised.  for 2 reasons.1> your get rid of the disease and 2> you get the histopathological diagnosis- makes you tension-free..All the best , I can understand when a granddaughter is ill ...