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How Long Does It Usually Take For Nodes To Shrink Down In Size?
Posted on
Mon, 14 Dec 2020
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Mon, 14 Dec 2020
Answered on
Thu, 10 Apr 2025
Last reviewed on
Question : Hello. I previously had an ultrasound that showed some enlarged nodes in my neck and some smaller ones in my parotid glands on 9/29/20 b/c I had felt some discomfort in my neck. My rheumatologist decided to have a follow up sonogram which I had today 12/14/20 which showed another finding along with what had been seen before. Report states that this could be a small mass. When I got the first sonogram I had been suffering from teeth infections and had just gotten over them. But now I have had no issues and the nodes size remains the same along with this new node finding. I have also not been sick in this time frame.
-How should I proceed from this point?
-Should I have a cat scan, mri, biopsy?
-How long does it usually take for nodes to shrink down in size? Should mine have shrunk already in this 2 1/2 month period?
-Do these enlarged nodes in neck point to more of an issue with neck malignancy or lymphoma due to sjogrens?
-If this is something bad, does it look like it’s in an early stage?
I recently had a spirometry blood test to screen for lymphoma that came back fine and my regular bloodwork is fine as well. Just want to make sure I am covering all my bases. Thank you.
-How should I proceed from this point?
-Should I have a cat scan, mri, biopsy?
-How long does it usually take for nodes to shrink down in size? Should mine have shrunk already in this 2 1/2 month period?
-Do these enlarged nodes in neck point to more of an issue with neck malignancy or lymphoma due to sjogrens?
-If this is something bad, does it look like it’s in an early stage?
I recently had a spirometry blood test to screen for lymphoma that came back fine and my regular bloodwork is fine as well. Just want to make sure I am covering all my bases. Thank you.
I just re read today’s report and it seems the questionable mass is on my parotid gland. If you could please offer clarification I’d appreciate it. I have sjogrens hence why the concern. Thank you.
Brief Answer:
It is tiny and indeterminate
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thanks for your query.
Overall, I don't find anything of serious concern in this new ultrasound. There is a tiny <1 cm new nodule/mass/node in left parotid which was not seen before. But this is quite common in Sjogren's. I don't think it suggests lymphoma or anything.
Nodes of the size mentioned in previous report are often benign and may persist for long. If their character was suspicious then needs FNAC but not these, their character appears benign.
At this point you have two options, one is to get a CT scan immediately to look for mass in parotid. Mostly it would not show anything else apart from USG findings. Another would be to wait a couple of months and get another USG.
Hope this helps.
Regards
It is tiny and indeterminate
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thanks for your query.
Overall, I don't find anything of serious concern in this new ultrasound. There is a tiny <1 cm new nodule/mass/node in left parotid which was not seen before. But this is quite common in Sjogren's. I don't think it suggests lymphoma or anything.
Nodes of the size mentioned in previous report are often benign and may persist for long. If their character was suspicious then needs FNAC but not these, their character appears benign.
At this point you have two options, one is to get a CT scan immediately to look for mass in parotid. Mostly it would not show anything else apart from USG findings. Another would be to wait a couple of months and get another USG.
Hope this helps.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Brief Answer:
It is tiny and indeterminate
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thanks for your query.
Overall, I don't find anything of serious concern in this new ultrasound. There is a tiny <1 cm new nodule/mass/node in left parotid which was not seen before. But this is quite common in Sjogren's. I don't think it suggests lymphoma or anything.
Nodes of the size mentioned in previous report are often benign and may persist for long. If their character was suspicious then needs FNAC but not these, their character appears benign.
At this point you have two options, one is to get a CT scan immediately to look for mass in parotid. Mostly it would not show anything else apart from USG findings. Another would be to wait a couple of months and get another USG.
Hope this helps.
Regards
It is tiny and indeterminate
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thanks for your query.
Overall, I don't find anything of serious concern in this new ultrasound. There is a tiny <1 cm new nodule/mass/node in left parotid which was not seen before. But this is quite common in Sjogren's. I don't think it suggests lymphoma or anything.
Nodes of the size mentioned in previous report are often benign and may persist for long. If their character was suspicious then needs FNAC but not these, their character appears benign.
At this point you have two options, one is to get a CT scan immediately to look for mass in parotid. Mostly it would not show anything else apart from USG findings. Another would be to wait a couple of months and get another USG.
Hope this helps.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you for your response doctor. I’d rather not expose myself to a cat scan unless I really needed it. -What else would a ct show that an ultrasound wouldn’t ? Would an mri give any insight?
-At what size would you consider a biopsy?
-How many months specifically should I wait before another ultrasound?
-If it remains the same size would you opt for a ct or only if it grew in size?
Thank you.
-At what size would you consider a biopsy?
-How many months specifically should I wait before another ultrasound?
-If it remains the same size would you opt for a ct or only if it grew in size?
Thank you.
Thank you for your response doctor. I’d rather not expose myself to a cat scan unless I really needed it. -What else would a ct show that an ultrasound wouldn’t ? Would an mri give any insight?
-At what size would you consider a biopsy?
-How many months specifically should I wait before another ultrasound?
-If it remains the same size would you opt for a ct or only if it grew in size?
Thank you.
-At what size would you consider a biopsy?
-How many months specifically should I wait before another ultrasound?
-If it remains the same size would you opt for a ct or only if it grew in size?
Thank you.
Brief Answer:
Yes you can wait
Detailed Answer:
MRI also may not show anything. best will be to wait and another USG in 2 months. If it remains same then no CT or biopsy. If 1.5 cm or more then CT and possibly biopsy as well.
Regards
Yes you can wait
Detailed Answer:
MRI also may not show anything. best will be to wait and another USG in 2 months. If it remains same then no CT or biopsy. If 1.5 cm or more then CT and possibly biopsy as well.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Nagamani Ng
Brief Answer:
Yes you can wait
Detailed Answer:
MRI also may not show anything. best will be to wait and another USG in 2 months. If it remains same then no CT or biopsy. If 1.5 cm or more then CT and possibly biopsy as well.
Regards
Yes you can wait
Detailed Answer:
MRI also may not show anything. best will be to wait and another USG in 2 months. If it remains same then no CT or biopsy. If 1.5 cm or more then CT and possibly biopsy as well.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Nagamani Ng
-Is it b/c of the shape/small size of the node/mass/nodule that they can’t tell what it is?
-If this grew in size would it be easier to tell what it is on USG?
-Would you suggest a biopsy for the nodes in my neck if they continue growing and at what specific size?
Thank you.
-Is it b/c of the shape/small size of the node/mass/nodule that they can’t tell what it is?
-If this grew in size would it be easier to tell what it is on USG?
-Would you suggest a biopsy for the nodes in my neck if they continue growing and at what specific size?
Thank you.
Brief Answer:
Yes it's too small
Detailed Answer:
As it's too small it can't be categorized. If it grows, even USG will be more informative.
If it grows upto 1.5 cm or beyond on followup, I would recommend FNAC/needle biopsy as feasible.
Regards
Yes it's too small
Detailed Answer:
As it's too small it can't be categorized. If it grows, even USG will be more informative.
If it grows upto 1.5 cm or beyond on followup, I would recommend FNAC/needle biopsy as feasible.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Brief Answer:
Yes it's too small
Detailed Answer:
As it's too small it can't be categorized. If it grows, even USG will be more informative.
If it grows upto 1.5 cm or beyond on followup, I would recommend FNAC/needle biopsy as feasible.
Regards
Yes it's too small
Detailed Answer:
As it's too small it can't be categorized. If it grows, even USG will be more informative.
If it grows upto 1.5 cm or beyond on followup, I would recommend FNAC/needle biopsy as feasible.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
-The nodes in my neck are already over 2cm. One is at 2.5 cm. I was asking at what size would you would suggest a biopsy for these?
-And why is it that the report does not seem as concerned about these nodes in my neck that are over 2cm already but they do mention this small node/nodule/mass on my parotid gland as a possible area of concern when it’s less than 1cm at the moment?
Thank you doctor.
-And why is it that the report does not seem as concerned about these nodes in my neck that are over 2cm already but they do mention this small node/nodule/mass on my parotid gland as a possible area of concern when it’s less than 1cm at the moment?
Thank you doctor.
-The nodes in my neck are already over 2cm. One is at 2.5 cm. I was asking at what size would you would suggest a biopsy for these?
-And why is it that the report does not seem as concerned about these nodes in my neck that are over 2cm already but they do mention this small node/nodule/mass on my parotid gland as a possible area of concern when it’s less than 1cm at the moment?
Thank you doctor.
-And why is it that the report does not seem as concerned about these nodes in my neck that are over 2cm already but they do mention this small node/nodule/mass on my parotid gland as a possible area of concern when it’s less than 1cm at the moment?
Thank you doctor.
Brief Answer:
I am not concerned about that node either
Detailed Answer:
The morphologically unremarkable nodes of upto 2.5 cm were present earlier also with no significant size change over time. hence We are not concerned about that. Their scan features favour benign nodes.
The intraparotid swelling is new and it needs more close observation. If it goes above 1.5 cm then to do FNAC/biopsy.
The lymph nodes don't need biopsy/FNAC at present.
I am not concerned about that node either
Detailed Answer:
The morphologically unremarkable nodes of upto 2.5 cm were present earlier also with no significant size change over time. hence We are not concerned about that. Their scan features favour benign nodes.
The intraparotid swelling is new and it needs more close observation. If it goes above 1.5 cm then to do FNAC/biopsy.
The lymph nodes don't need biopsy/FNAC at present.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Nagamani Ng
Brief Answer:
I am not concerned about that node either
Detailed Answer:
The morphologically unremarkable nodes of upto 2.5 cm were present earlier also with no significant size change over time. hence We are not concerned about that. Their scan features favour benign nodes.
The intraparotid swelling is new and it needs more close observation. If it goes above 1.5 cm then to do FNAC/biopsy.
The lymph nodes don't need biopsy/FNAC at present.
I am not concerned about that node either
Detailed Answer:
The morphologically unremarkable nodes of upto 2.5 cm were present earlier also with no significant size change over time. hence We are not concerned about that. Their scan features favour benign nodes.
The intraparotid swelling is new and it needs more close observation. If it goes above 1.5 cm then to do FNAC/biopsy.
The lymph nodes don't need biopsy/FNAC at present.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Nagamani Ng
Understood. Thank you for your time doctor.
Understood. Thank you for your time doctor.
Brief Answer:
You are welcome
Detailed Answer:
regards
You are welcome
Detailed Answer:
regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Brief Answer:
You are welcome
Detailed Answer:
regards
You are welcome
Detailed Answer:
regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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