What Could Mildly Prominent Nodes With Cortical Thickening In My Neck Ultrasound Mean For My Ongoing Discomfort When Swallowing?

I have what feels to be a swollen lymph node that causes some sense of discomfort when swallowing. This feeling has been ongoing for over a year, every day. An ultrasound of the neck noted mildly prominent nodes... along both jugular chains with cortical thickening.