Hard lump on one side under the jaw - Online Doctor Chats

User :   I have one seems to be a swollen submandibular gland. It appeared three weeks ago as a small lump. My face got quite swollen. My first dr. told me it was lymph nodes and there was nothing to worry about. I wanted a second opinion, the 2nd dr. told me he thought it was a swollen salivary gland. He gave me an antibiotic for five days - stays in system 10. I'm now at end of day six. Most of the swelling is gone, but I do have a rather large, hard lump that three inches long from my back jaw bone to almost my chin. I really have no other symptoms
                                                                 
Doctor :   Hi
Doctor :   I
User :   hello
Doctor :   Let me read the query
Doctor :   Can you please put your specific question now?
User :   my concern is that everything I have read leads me to a tumor...I am hoping there is another option
Doctor :   Ok

User :   i know tumors are rare
User :   in these glands
Doctor :   What is your age?
User :   47
User :   no family history of this
Doctor :   and do you ever had such symptoms or problems earlier?
User :   not really
User :   the day i got it I didn't feel well
Doctor :   Do you have any other symptoms other than the hard lump?
User :   no
Doctor :   How is yoru appetite ?
User :   fine haven't lost weight
Doctor :   Do you have enough salivation when you have eat food or see food?
User :   yes
Doctor :   Do you have pain while eating food?
User :   sometimes, not terrible pain
Doctor :   Do you have recent throat infection or any problems with teeth?
Doctor :   Do you have dandruff or ear problems?
User :   I should mention the swelling on my face was really bad until i took the antibitoics
User :   the hard lump is stilll there, though
User :   no to dandruff and ear
Doctor :   Is it generalised facial swelling or only to particular ares (localized to the lump)
User :   yes, in and around
User :   there was some pain last week when I opened my mouth too wide - eating, etc
Doctor :   Do you have pain when you press over the lump or have raised temperature over the area
User :   that is pretty much gone
User :   not really
User :   maybe a little raised temp
Doctor :   Any dental problem or ear infection?
User :   no, went to dentist today no ear infection
Doctor :   Ok, from the information I got from you, I could say that it is an infection with localised swelling
Doctor :   Whether it is lymph node or gland is purely a clinical diagnosis ( on physical examination)
Doctor :   *salivary gland
User :   does this occur without pain in the lump?
Doctor :   the treatment remains the same for both
Doctor :   Yes
User :   can the lump be real hard?
Doctor :   If the swelling would not have subsided with antibiotics
Doctor :   or if the swelling is still bothering the next step is to take a biopsy.
Doctor :   The Doctor wanted to try with the course of antibiotic
User :   correct
Doctor :   and see the response
User :   it seems to have worked for the swelling, just not the lump
Doctor :   Lump takes some time to subside in swelling
User :   so the hardness of it doesn't concern you?
Doctor :   If there is a suspicion the Doctor obviously shall refer you to Head & Neck surgeon for biopsy
Doctor :   Only the hardness does not mean that it is a tumor
Doctor :   I need sometime to answer
User :   okay
Doctor :   Only hard in consistency should not be a confirmed tumor
User :   does the fact that the swelling has gone done seem good?
Doctor :   As you know the tumors are rare and the swelling had responded to the antibiotics goes in favor of benign problem

User :   if it were more serious, what would you expect as symptoms?
Doctor :   Long lasting hard swelling with no change in size after prolonged antibiotic course, fixed to the nearest structure, loss of appetite and weight.

Doctor :   Hard swelling also goes in favour of stone in the submandibular gland
User :   can you feel this stone? Also there is no pain?
Doctor :   You cannot but the Doctor can identify if it is large

User :   my gland can "milk" okay...my dentist checked
User :   I'm sorry to ask so many questions
Doctor :   If it can milk, the chance of stone is almost ruled out

Doctor :   Not a problem
User :   if that is ruled out, what are other options?
User :   does that change your mind?
User :   I really don't have dry mouth
Doctor :   No I do not think of any
User :   I may have a mild case of lack of fluids
User :   I drink a lot of soda with caffine
Doctor :   Ok
User :   when you say I do not think of any...what do you mean?
Doctor :   Other than the salivary gland, lymph node
Doctor :   I think a head and neck surgeon can help you with some other commoner causes
User :   Are you more curious about a tumor?
Doctor :   WWW.WWWW.WW Doctor :   You can take some help here
User :   are you referring me now?
Doctor :   You may want to
Doctor :   I shall put tumor in the last places
Doctor :   as the possible reason
User :   because of lack of symptoms?
Doctor :   yes
Doctor :   The age group shall not suit
User :   even if it is begnin?
Doctor :   If it benign then no problem
Doctor :   Time shall take the priority for the next step
Doctor :   Watchful waiting and observationh
User :   you think I should give the antibotics more time?
User :   before I do anything else?
Doctor :   Yes
User :   you have been very helpful
User :   thanks
Doctor :   Thanks for consulting me
Doctor :   Bye for now

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