Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
Have A Palpably Distended Blood Vessel On The Inside Of Arm. Could It Be Lymph Node Swelling?
Question: I have a palpably distended blood vessel on the inside of my upper left arm. It travels midway along the inside area of my biceps muscle. Feels like a pea size lump in 2 inches from the elbow. When I stretch my arm out, it feels tender and taut, like a tight string. There is a slightly blue bruise about the size of a quarter where the pea size lump is palpable. This has been like this for 3 weeks. I have an abscessed tooth -5 months now-that drains pus every now and then. I don't have dental insurance. Could it be a lymph node swelling due to pus draining into my throat. Would it be a good idea to get a CBC and a UA done. What advice do you have for me?
Hello XXXXXXX,
Thanks for posting your query.
The swelling in the mid arm on inner side is indicative of either a vascular problem like a thrombosis of basilic vein/ an aneurysm of brachial artery; or it may be an enlarged lymph node of suprotrochlear region.
It would be a good idea to get a CBC alonf with CRP and ESR, d-Dimer levels and a vascular Doppler which would be helpful helpful to differentiate the thrombotic or infectious pathologies.
UA is not needed and the tooth problem is not a cause behind this because that area does not drain in arm lymph nodes.
Other rare and remote possibilities are bony exostosis/ cyst/ malignancy.
I hope this answers your query. Please get the advised investigations and put a follow up query.
You should also get a local physical examination by a surgeon and review with report.
In case you have any follow up queries or doubts, you can forward them for me, and I shall be glad to help you.
Please accept my answer in case you do not have further queries.
Wishing you good health.
Thanks for posting your query.
The swelling in the mid arm on inner side is indicative of either a vascular problem like a thrombosis of basilic vein/ an aneurysm of brachial artery; or it may be an enlarged lymph node of suprotrochlear region.
It would be a good idea to get a CBC alonf with CRP and ESR, d-Dimer levels and a vascular Doppler which would be helpful helpful to differentiate the thrombotic or infectious pathologies.
UA is not needed and the tooth problem is not a cause behind this because that area does not drain in arm lymph nodes.
Other rare and remote possibilities are bony exostosis/ cyst/ malignancy.
I hope this answers your query. Please get the advised investigations and put a follow up query.
You should also get a local physical examination by a surgeon and review with report.
In case you have any follow up queries or doubts, you can forward them for me, and I shall be glad to help you.
Please accept my answer in case you do not have further queries.
Wishing you good health.
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
