What causes a non-painful lump under the ear?
Patient's Query
Hello doctor,
I want to ask you about what is happening under my ear. I have a visible lump or bump under my right ear , which I first noticed over a year ago. After consulting a doctor, HRCT of the temporal bone, and two USG neck scans, no results were found. I have been experiencing a throbbing sensation, feeling warm and pulsing in that area. A general nurse suggested mastoiditis, but she is not a doctor. I am 18 years old and experienced an ear infection a year ago. The sensation does not hurt but is causing stress. Could you tell me what this could be?
Kindly help.
Hello,
Welcome to icliniq.com.
I read your query and can understand your concern.
I have seen all your pictures (attachments removed to protect the patient's identity), and they look normal.
The area that you have marked looks normal; maybe when you press, is there any lump that you can feel, or is it the mastoid tip that you are feeling?
Based on your description, you might be having mastoiditis or a simple post-auricular lymph node.
This is not mastoiditis. In mastoiditis, you will have high-grade fever, ear pain, and ear discharge. Are you having any of these symptoms?
But I can assure you, it is not a tumor or cancer.
Revert with the answer to assist further.
Thank you, and take care.
Regards.
Patient's Query
Hello doctor,
Thank you for the reply.
What is this hard thing inside?
I do not have a fever or ear discharge, but when I used earbuds two days ago, I saw dry blood. I can feel this thing under my ear. I do not know how to describe it anymore; it is not causing any pain, but I can sense it. It gets warm and feels beats sometimes and feels a bit heavy.
I feel like there is some infection. I do not know if it is a mastoid tip, but that thing is also in the left ear. I do not feel it, and it does not bother me.
Kindly help.
Hello,
Welcome back to icliniq.com.
I read your query and can understand your concern.
The hard thing that you are pressing may be a normal mastoid process. Since you have no fever or ear pain, it is not mastoiditis. The blood that you complain of may be simple ear wax, which would somewhat mimic blood.
Since you cannot hold and rotate the swelling, it might be a mastoid process only. So all you will have to do is stop worrying. If the swelling does not feel good, I would suggest you get a USG (ultrasound sonography) neck. Nothing else is required.
I hope I have answered your question.
Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards.
Same symptoms don't mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!
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