Supraclavicular Lymph Node

Hello! I am a 37 year old healthy female. I have had a palapable, reactive supraclavicular lymph node for over 6 months. It only changes size when it's really sore and swollen, otherwise it is just a hard, painless lump. My dr said that the only thing that is NOT concerning to them is the size...it is 5x6x7mm, I believe? I have done a little online research, and everything that I have read states that if you have a lymph node that will not go away in this reagion, that you should absolutely have it biopsied, and that over half of the cases biopsied are cancer! Is this true? I have had a CBC, which came back within the normal limits. The only lab that has come back elevated was my DHEA-S. Thoughts? The Dr. told me to just monitor, and contact her if it changes at all. Is that something that you would be comfortable with? Or should I just request a biopsy?

Thank you for your help!

I'm 72 yrs old. I have microscopic lymphocytic colitis that came on 1 yr ago. Now 1 yr later just overnight I woke up with left & right supraclavicular swollen lymph nodes. Left node is 2 times the size of the right node & both are very soft. My gastro dr told me they have nothing to do with my microscopic colitis & ref'd me to a hemotologist which I hv set an appt with. Its been 1 week since these 2 swollen glands appeared just above my clavicle on left & right sides. CT scan showed 8 mm nodule deep within left lymph node. I cannot feel it upon touch so it must be very deep. CBC was normal.  I will return here to comment after appt with hemotologist.  

The first thing the oncologist checks on my husband is the superclavicular lymph nodes every visit. They palpate them to see if they have grown or cancer has spread. Cancer started in parotid gland for my husband. Doctors insisted on PET scan, CT, and MRI and will have those done again every ninety days but the manual check gives them a quick insight on is there changes before and after keytruda. I myself would insist on MRI if I were you just for my own peace of mind. Not cheap though and unless doctor considers it medically necessary insurance wont pay. Husbands last MRI was $5,800.

Thanks for your reply. It was a GP I went to as soon as the swollen nodes appeared & he pressed on the very soft lymph nodes saying he didnt feel any nodules....then sent me for the CT scan & lab... results 'ok'.  GP said see an ENT doc.   Instead, I called my gastro doc & he referred me to a hematologist but that appt is weeks away. I'm very worried that I hv to wait weeks for my appt. Am working on getting another hema doc to see me. Town I'm in is considered rural so I have to drive few hours to a bigger city where more specialists are located.  Will get back with what takes place.

Would be great if you were close to Emory. We drive an hour each way. But worth it. Doctor Kudchadkar has specialties in hematology and oncology. Went there after Husband was seen by TWO different ENTs.

One more thing- dont discount your gut feelings. Husband initially had a spot biopsied TWICE one inch in front of his ear. Both times it came back negative. Third time the dermatologist referred him to a second dermatologist who then sent him to the first ENT. My husband kept telling them something did not feel right. They told him it was fatty tissue, biopsies were negative, not to worry. He was insistent. When ENT surgeon went in merkel cell cancer was wrapped completely around parotid gland. Then got sent to Emory. He has stage 4 and is on keytruda. If he had not been so persistent that “something just does not feel right” who knows when it would have been found...

Its been 4 months since I last wrote. Now late Sept 2018. Gastro dr backed off referring me on to a hematologist because he said it had nothing to do with what he is treating me for (colitis) so I went to my Primary GP. He said lots of older folks gets these swollen lymph nodes & he refused to refer me to a hematologist after he looked over my CT scan. Hematologist office wont accept new patient unless I have a referral. The swollen nodes have gone down in size to half of what they were.

I see your last remarks were May 2018. How is your husband's condition? Today is Nov 29, 2018. I was reading thru your past remarks where he was on Keytruda. 

I researched Dr K who you wrote that your husband was seen by.    Did your husband hv Melanoma .... is this related to Lymphoma ?     ~~ Susan

Ragini Kudchadkar, MD, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology at Emory University School of Medicine. Dr. Kudchadkar specializes in the treatment of metastatic melanoma, basal cell carcinoma and other cutaneous malignancies.

I researched Dr K who you wrote that your husband was seen by.    Was your husbands problem related to Lymphoma ?  I still have swollen supraclavicular lymph nodes on left & right side of my neck above the clavicle. My gastro doc in Minot ND is Edmundo Justino & my GP doctor Bruce Pugatch in Williston ND looked at the CT scan done on me & both said my swollen nodes are just fatty deposits that many older folks get. That concerns me immensely that I cannot get either of them to refer me to a hematologist. They both said they will not refer me on to a hematologist. Its been 6 months since the swollen lymph nodes appeared right above my right & left clavicle & they are still very predominent in size  ~ Susan Vallejo  ~ 4sue.vallej o@gmail.com