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What Does A Hard Mass On Su-maxilary Area Indicate?

Posted on Tue, 30 Dec 2014

Question: my 76 year old father has a hard mass on the su-maxilary area. He has 2 CT-Scans and the mass does not show, however the mass is visible and palpable. It does not move. He also lost about 25 pounds in 8 months without trying.
Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

Answered by Dr. Rakesh Madhyastha (11 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
MRI scan preferred over ct scan

Detailed Answer:
Hello

Thanks for the query

CT scan is the preferred modality of investigation for bones however for soft tissue like mass a better investigation would be MRI scan.
If I were to be your doctor I would have first ordered for an ultra sound of the area and taken a biopsy or fine needle aspiration for the mass. From the description you have given me it looks more likely to be either a lymph node or a salivary gland.
The best doctor to approach for this is an ent surgeon

I hope I have guided you well, if you have any further queries please get back to me.

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Rakesh Madhyastha (5 minutes later)

Are those masses usually benign or malignant.

Answered by Dr. Rakesh Madhyastha (3 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Can tell only after biopsy

Detailed Answer:
Hello

Thanks for getting back

These masses are most of the times benign, sometimes they can be infective in nature as well. It is very rarely malignant. Biopsy is a must to know for sure

Regards

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar