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I Have A Small Ball The Size Of A Pea

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Posted on Fri, 26 Jul 2019
Twitter Fri, 26 Jul 2019 Answered on
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Question : I have a small ball the size of a pea behind my right earlobe that is easy to feel under the skin. It doesn’t hurt or bothersome but I am wondering if it’s just a lymph node?
doctor
Answered by Dr. T Chandrakant (17 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Please give some additional information and post clear photographs if possible.

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for your query.
Noted the history and understood the concerns.

Please give additional information for me to assist you better:

Since when is the swelling present?
Can you pinch the skin as separate than the swelling or the swelling is attached to the skin?
Is the swelling fixed to the underlying tissues or freely mobile?
Is it behind the ear'' lobule'' or behind the pinna on the mastoid bone?
If possible post a clear and focused photo.

All answers/feedback will help me to assist you better.
Awaiting your feedback.

Dr T Chandrakant
General Surgeon

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. T Chandrakant (30 minutes later)
I am not sure how long its been there
You can%E2%80%99t see it, you can only feel it when you press into my skin. it isnt fixed on the skin either. It%E2%80%99s very small and has not grown. I noticed it about a month ago.
doctor
Answered by Dr. T Chandrakant (54 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Most probably a lymph node, needs to rule out lipoma/ sebaceous cyst

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your feedback.
Your description is more suggestive of a lymph node.

The lymph nodes in this area can enlarge a bit due to a condition called reactive hyperplasia or can be secondary to local unnoticeable infection in the ear canal or scalp like one gets in dandruff.
They may remain such for a long time and are usually of not much of clinical significance.
These can be diagnosed by Ultrasonography and FNAC.

Please get these done after discussing with your doctor to be sure about the nature and cause of the swelling as other possibilities of lipoma, a sebaceous cyst is mostly ruled out.

I hope this answers your queries and helps further.
Kindly post the findings and reports once done.

Dr T Chandrakant
General Surgeon


Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee
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Answered by
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Dr. T Chandrakant

General Surgeon

Practicing since :1984

Answered : 19774 Questions

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I Have A Small Ball The Size Of A Pea

Brief Answer: Please give some additional information and post clear photographs if possible. Detailed Answer: Hi, Thanks for your query. Noted the history and understood the concerns. Please give additional information for me to assist you better: Since when is the swelling present? Can you pinch the skin as separate than the swelling or the swelling is attached to the skin? Is the swelling fixed to the underlying tissues or freely mobile? Is it behind the ear'' lobule'' or behind the pinna on the mastoid bone? If possible post a clear and focused photo. All answers/feedback will help me to assist you better. Awaiting your feedback. Dr T Chandrakant General Surgeon