Are the tiny white dots on my throat granular pharyngitis?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am a 27-year-old female. Yesterday, I noticed little white lumps at the back of my throat.

The one behind the palatopharyngeal arch is red, and another one on the back of my throat, on each side, which is red in color with little white things on it. What is it?

I do not know how long I have had it for. I do not drink or smoke. Is it throat or mouth cancer?

Please help.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Here, in your case, a step-wise approach should be considered. According to the history provided, you have red swelling on the posterior pharynx with white dots over that.

Hence, it could be a tonsillar enlargement, or posterior pharynx mucosa, or a mass. It can be a chronic infection as well. I suggest you get the following investigations done.

Posterior pharynx examination.
Lymph node palpation, especially in the cervical area.
Throat swab and send for culture.

If needed, your doctor will give you an antibiotic course after examination. Salt water gargle is beneficial in such a case. If the inflammatory swelling is more, then a short-term steroid might be given for five days.

If no improvement occurs and if it seems like a mass on examination, then a biopsy should be done and sent for histopathological examination to rule out the nature of the lesion.

I hope your concern is solved. Consult an ENT (ear, nose, and throat) specialist for examination, keeping all this in mind.

Thank you.

Answer 2

Hi,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

I had seen the images that you provided (attachment removed to protect patient identity). Here is my opinion regarding your case.

It does not look like a malignant growth. It could be granular pharyngitis like inflammation along with tonsillar enlargement.

What are your clinical symptoms? Do you have difficulty in swallowing, throat pain, or a fever?

I suggest the following.

Try taking Amoxicillin and Clavulanic acid combination drug for five days, twice daily.
Salt water gargle for three times a day.
Vitamin C lozenges are useful.
To avoid gastritis, try taking Pantoprazole tablet for a week.

Your lymph node should be palpated, and the following investigations should be done.

CBC (complete blood count).
ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate).
Throat swab and ASO (antistreptolysin O) titer if needed.

Consult an ENT specialist for examination with keeping my answer in mind. Clinically the posterior pharynx examination should be done again after a week.