Swelling in Neck

[Nancy60]

Hi Everyone,

Just wanted to post this new development to get your thoughts.  I have had a swelling or fullness on the left side of my neck just above my collarbone (kind of in the hollow that is just above your collarbone.  It has been there for a few months, doesn't hurt or cause any problems, just looks funny.  I saw my rheumy and PCP recently and they both felt like it was more likely muscular - said it doesn't have the firm nodular feel of something cancerous or a tumor or cyst - I am to get a CT scan just to be sure.  I was scheduled for it this last Friday after my doctor appt, but had to reschedule it after more than half a dozen attempts to get the IV contrast started....my veins kept collapsing probably because I was fasting for my Dr. appt...so I go back next Friday (my next day off).  Has anybody  here had a problem like this?  I told my Dr. I was most concerned it might be Lymphoma with my Sjogren's and also I have a family history of Lymphoma.  Does Lymphoma run in families?  Oh, one other thing, all my labs have been good lately (from rheumy appt) so I am not too concerned because I think they would be abnormal if Lymphoma was developing....am I right in thinking that?

Thanks for any light you might be able to shed on this.

Nancy

[Linda196]

Nancy, if one of the routine tests your rheumy does is a CBC (probably the single most common blood test there is), it would probably show some changes in the event of lymphoma; the white cells and platelets usually decrease in number and there can be abnormalities in the formation of the white cells.

It's always a wise precaution to check anything like this swelling out, and the enhanced CT is the next logical step. I wish you well with it, and hope the veins behave this time!

[Scottietottie]

Hi Nancy 

Is the swelling in the wrong place for it to be thyroid related? I got a lump in my neck above my collarbone when I went hypothyroid. Over several months it changed size and shape. I had an ultrasound and was told I have a multinodular goitre and that change in it is not unusual. the whole thing has reduced considerably since I was put on the correct amount of thyroxine.

Just a thought.

Take care - Scottie 

[Nancy60]

The CT scan is for my neck and thyroid.  I think it is a little too far to the side for it to be thyroid, but who knows.  She is rechecking my thyroid levels too as I have been more tired, had puffy hands and feet, dry skin, brittle nails etc... all since I saw her last 6 months ago, so it might be related.  I do have hypothyroidism (autoimmune of course).  Like I told her, I never know what all the puffy/aches/pains/swelling/driness are coming from anymore - sjogren's, other autoimmune stuff, hypothyroid, etc....  I guess that is her job though, right!

Thanks for the comments.  they do help keep me from worrying until I get the test results back.  I am trying to stay positive that this isn't anything to worry about since it is painless and not causing any problems.

Nancy

[Nancy60]

They ended up doing a sonogram instead of a CT Scan but all was normal, the radiologist said the "swelling" was fat and was not uncommon as we age!!!!  Glad to know it isn't Lymphoma or anything serious, but I'm a bit embarrassed it was just fat!      

By the way, they decided to do the ultrasound instead of the CT Scan because it would show the lymph nodes and masses as well, be less radiation exposure and less expensive and he told me if he saw anything concerning on the Ultrasound he would go back and do the CT Scan and not charge me for the Sonogram.  He called my Doctor and discussed it with her before changing the test.  Kind of made me wonder if they were being scrutinized for ordering too many CT's or something, but I guess if he gets the same information and can rule out Lymphoma I am satisfied and didn't want all the radiation exposure anyway. 

[irish]

Sounds like the guy that did your sonogram plus the radiologist did their research and decided that a sonogram would give more important information. You were very lucky to have people that knew what they were doing. Fat !!!! They better not do one on me cause the whole thing will be fat!! All of a sudden I have put on several guts(like in the past 8 months) with about 5 ounds weight gain. It is the darn prednisone. I placed a call to my neuro who was to taper this alternate 2.5 mgm totally off and has forgotten about it. Still take the other 10 mgm on the other alternate days.

Glad that all is well. I think you gave us all us start there for a few days. Irish