hi
thanks for query on HCM
ur lymphnode pea sized, at centre of ur neck, painful
first it is needed to confirm that swelling is at all a lymphnode or something else
because many other swellings can present as a centre neck swelling like
thyroid swelling, branchial cysts,
lipoma etc etc
so get examined properly by a surgeon
if it is lymphnode then chance of malignancy is less because it is painful so more chance of being inflammation
u also need to see whether this swelling is moving with deglutition or not
take a two weeks course of doxycyclin and look for the decrease or disappearance of it
if persist then chance of infection is less...then may be a case of tb lymphnode or something else
in that case u have to go for FNAC or excision
biopsy of that swelling
do consult ur surgeon
i think my consultation ll be of help to u
thank u