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Follow up after clear biopsy?

The_Berry
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Hi,

I got a bunch of lymph nodes come up on the right side of my neck about three months ago.

They fast tracked me to ENT and I had an ultrasound where apparently all of the nodes looked reactive apart from one, which was round and black. They did a fine needle aspiration of that one, and the results just showed reactive changes again. All the nodes were around 1cm I believe, or maybe just a little larger.

I asked the consultant if he was sure it wasn't cancer, and he said it wasn't cancer, he was more than 99% sure.

However, given the "odd appearance" of the one node he arranged for a follow up appointment in 6 weeks (that's on Friday now).

I'm just wondering - why would he arrange a follow up if he was so sure it wasn't cancer? Is he expecting the nodes to have gone down by now, and will be shocked when they haven't? What will he do?

I'm anxious and any help would be so much appreciated. I've heard that FNA isn't always accurate. I have no other symptoms, and the nodes don't appear to have grown, but I can't imagine why I'd have all these painless, unilateral enlarged nodes for three months without any sign of infection or anything.

Thanks,

Jenny

  • Unfortunately no one here can answer these questions I'm afraid but your consultant can so if possible do try and get in touch with them so you can find out and hopefully get some peace of mind.

    I'm sure some of our members will offer their support and advice to you soon but it sounds like your consultant is being very thorough and you are in good hands.

    Wishing you all the best with your follow up Jenny.

    Kind regards,

    Steph, Cancer Chat Moderator

  • Offline

    Hi [@The_Berry]‍ 

    i just wondered if you had your follow up?

    i too have three large nodes that have been scanned and all look to be reactive but I just can't shake this feeling and I would like an FNA.

    hope all is well

    x

  • Offline in reply to Farah1

    Hi Farah,

    Yes, I saw the consultant on Friday, who described himself as the 'paranoid' type which was great for me - means he's much more thorough!

    My serology results came back which surprised both me and him because they showed a cause!

    At the time of testing, I had active toxoplasmosis!!

    I have no idea how, as I haven't been near a cat for absolutely ages.

    I did question the accuracy of the cytology and the consultant admitted that it couldn't really rule cancer out - but that there were no signs of anything dodgy at all in the cytology and that given the toxo diagnosis it was overwhelming likely to be that.

    He did feel the nodes again and did say they felt very reassuring (though I know that's not the most reliable diagnostic tool).

    He said that even in follicular lymphoma he would be expecting the nodes to be a bit bigger by now.

    So, even with raised lymph nodes for three months, and one node that looks dodgy on ultrasound, there can still be a benign cause!

    In your case, since all of your nodes looked normal on ultrasound, I think it's very very unlikely anything malignant is going on. And remember that cytology from FNA isn't totally accurate anyway. They have to remove the node to provide a definitive diagnosis - but in my case the consultant said that wasn't necessary at all.

    He said that often he'd lie awake at night wondering whether he'd done the right thing but that in my case it would sleep soundly!

    Lymphadenopathy is so common. It's only when it sticks around for ages or the ultrasound looks weird that it's a concern. You're probably ok!

    Good luck.

    Jenny

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