What does a swollen parotid gland feel like to the touch?

[Blomst]

I have an enlarged either parotid gland or lymph node right below one of my ears/next to my jaw. It's been enlarged for about 7 months, and I had an MRI of my neck yesterday. I didn't really think too much about this until recently, but now it's freaking me out and I've done myself the disservice of looking up characteristics of cancerous lymph nodes online... And like cancerous nodes, the bulge on my neck is hard, immobile and not tender. I know I should just try to wait for the MRI results, but it's so hard. So I figured, there's probably lots of people in here with enlarged parotid glands, so maybe you could help reassure me that it's just an enlarged parotid in my case as well. So, what does an enlarged parotid gland feel like to the touch? Is it like mine - hard and immobile - or is it soft, tender etc? And has anyone here experienced just one enlarged parotid gland?

[Navigator]

Well...I have only had this once and it was hard, immobile and only on one side.  When pressed it did feel tender.

Others no doubt have more experience.

[warmwaters]

For me, it's relatively hard and smooth. My parotids go up and down relatively frequently. When down, the area feels softer, more like muscle, and when inflamed, it's harder, sore and a rounded lump. 

It extends from below my jawline to about level with the middle of my ear.

[irish]

The parotid gland can be seen along with the other salivary glands by doing a search for images salivary glands face neck. You will get a better picture of where the glands lie in relation to the bony structures. The glands will go up and down in size depending on the degree of inflammation that is going on. Sometimes when enlarged they can be tender and sometimes not so tender.

Be aware that you can have infection in these glands which generally causes lots of pain, spasm like pain in the salivary ducts where the saliva travels from the gland into the mouth. A person can develop salivary stones that form from the chemicals in the thick mucus. Sometimes they are very little and will pass on their own and sometimes they are large and get stuck in the gland or the duct and need antibiotics for the usual accompanying infection plus often a surgical removal.

Sometimes the glands in the neck will get a little swollen and sore but will go down again. You can do a search of images of lymph nodes in head and neck and see where they are in relation to the glands. When glands get inflamed the lymph nodes will also do the same thing most of the time. Do not worry about this as it is the nature of the beast.Sort of keep a certain level of alertness regarding the glands and nodes but do not lose sleep or you will drive yourself crazy. Do not worry until the docs give you reason to. Good luck. Irish

[cccourt1942]

Blomst:  I cannot believe your parotid can be enlarged that long and it hasn't hurt you.  I would have this pain hit me (right where you describe) and then...instantaneously I would "grow" this extension from below my ear/jaw line...and at times...an extension (under the skin) coming out of the lower area which resembled the size of the end joint of a thumb.  When that type happened , people would be frightened for me.  But it hurt.  Hurt worse than anything I had ever felt at that time.  The only thing which stopped it would be to ignore food, drink water...and wait for the salivation to stop.  Or ..the attempt to salivate.  Mine would be plugged. 

I did warm compresses and eventually learned the backwards J massage.  I say that in case yours ever does hurt....but in your case, your ducts must be partially open.  When the duct is stopped up with stones, sludge..whatever SjS has converted your saliva to, Irish is spot on:  Bacterial infection.  In my case, it was instantaneous.  No joke.  Doctors couldn't believe it.  Now that I have but one functioning major salivary gland, I will have the infection about once every 3 months.  And then...I slap the warm compresses on...and ...even tho my dr. says not to do this:  I keep about 4 or 5 of my antibiotics from the previous infection and start it.  By the time I get to the dr, I have it under control.

I 'd say yours has to be the parotid...and not the lymph.  I AM NOT A DOCTOR.  NOR A NURSE.  I can't believe the doctors caring for you wouldn't have let you go this long thinking lymphoma.  I have  a dear friend whose son just went thru chemo and radiation for lymphoma.  He had a biopsy about three days after the inflammation was discovered.  They are pretty aggressive about that possibility.  AND...by the time you are reading this, maybe your MRI results are in your hands. 

Best to you...Sjoldier c3

[bartolo]

The parotid gland is "centrally" to your jaw line, between the ear and jaw and is  about 2.5 inches big.

Lymph nodes are either below the jaw or "laterally" to the jaw, that is in the neck and are usually about 0.5-1 cm big.

Both the enlarged parotid glands or lymph nodes can be painful/tender or not.

[Blomst]

Thanks for your replies, everyone! It's a little bit difficult for me to describe where this lump is located in English (not my first language), but I'll try. The hard, enlarged area starts just below my ear lobe and goes along the bone down to the "angle" of the jaw - on the "neck side" of my jaw bone, not the "face side". From what I can tell from pictures, it definitely seems to be a lymph node rather than the parotid... It's not big enough to be visible, but theres definitely something that's enlarged/"not like normal" as it feels completely different to the other side. On the right (normal) side it's soft and "gives" (does this make sense) when I press on that area. On the left side, it literally feels like I press on a piece of bone. But like I said, no pain or even tenderness.

I had the MRI on Wednesday and was told that my doctor would receive the results in 1-2 days (meaning today at the latest, if there wasn't some delay). I assume the doctor would contact me immediately if there was something seriously concerning on the scans..? I had hoped I would hear from him today either way, but I guess I should consider no news good news?

[bartolo]

Your description and English are very good and I'm not English, too.

The parotid gland is on the "face side" of the jaw line. Lumps on the neck side could be lymph nodes, yes, one or more of them, each one would be about the size of a small marble. The MRI may show some lumps in which case you can expect some blood tests to be done and eventual biopsy -- aspiration of the enlarged lymph nodes to check what exactly it is.

[cccourt1942]

Bartola is spot on:  that "thumb" extension would extend from just above my jawline.  I thought the neck lymph nodes lay just behind (toward the top) of the parotid.  You can google it and click on images.  None the less, your worry is the same no matter what until you get your results.  It's amazing whichever that it does not hurt when it's that swollen.

Hope by the time you are reading this you have news. 

Where do you and Bartola live?
Sjoldier c3

[irish]

I don't have real bad pain in my glands, but do have some swelling. The right side of my face is always a little swollen and the pain in the gland comes and goes. I am on IVIG and prednisone so I don't have such bad swelling--I would guess the drugs keep it down to a dull roar in my face.

However, there are times when I must get more swelling than usual and probably have some gravel or small stones in the glands and ducts. I get these spasm in the side of my face along the jaw line and up below my ear. At times it can take your breath away it gets so bad. The warm packs and gentle massage are the only thing that helps along with some Tylenol as I can't take nsaids. Irish

[Rete]

I hope this helps! After many years of parotid gland pain (I was diagnosed 16 years ago) FINALLY, within this past year, I have done some things that have actually helped...no meds required! If the gland is swollen, usually it is inflamed. First trick: open your mouth as wide as you can, as though you are exercising your jaw. Do this several times throughout the day. Second trick: Use a cold (not hot, the gland is already 'hot' and heat can make it worse) compress on the facial area of the swollen gland making sure the compress extends up to the forehead area and down toward the neck. While it has taken years to find relief for my parotid gland issues I am grateful that these techniques work. I hope this helps someone.

[Blomst]

Hi again! Just felt like I owed you an update after your patient and helpful replies, and I have a new question too. The MRI came back with the following message: "Bilateral enlargement of parotid glands and lymph nodes, compatible with Sjogren's syndrome. Biopsy not necessary." (This was written by my new rheumatologist, not the radiologist.) I thought it was weird that there was swelling on both sides as I can only feel it on one side, and also that it was weird that the parotids turned out to be enlarged as I cannot feel or see any enlargement in that area on either side. But I guess there must be some swelling then. I'm trying to be relieved and accept that this is good news and there's nothing more to worry about regarding lymphoma, but there is a slight doubt still lingering... Do any of you know what makes them decide that a biopsy is not necessary for an enlarged lymph node? Can they actually see on the MRI that the enlargement is benign?

[cccourt1942]

Blomst, I never worried about the lymph nodes.  I wasn't smart enough to!   The compromised saliva which is comes from those salivary glands is a different consistency after the white cells start attacking the mucosa with SjS.  I would GUESS...that's ALL it is..A GUESS...that thicker saliva moves more slowly than free flowing, normal, unaffected saliva.  GUESS.  When that sludge stops up your duct, that's when that pain occurs.  And then pow...you have an infection...and it hurts so badly.
      The MRI can easily differentiate the parotids from the lymph glands .  I must say once I was diagnosed with SjS I worried about lymphoma a lot.  After a few months I thought I should be worried about my osteoporotic hip crumbling more than lymphoma.  I don't mean to be flip...I mean I had to stop obsessing.  It's a long adjustment period.  I am thrilled with your outcome. 
    Have a nice evening. 
c3