Seeking Guidance on Recurring Lump Several Months Post-Surgery
**Demographics:** 26 years old, Female **Location of the lump:** Beneath the left jaw, in the submandibular region **Timeline:** The initial lump emerged years ago, and now a pea-sized nodule has reemerged **eight months post-surgery.** **Symptoms:** * The lump is **not accompanied by itching**, but it does become **sore for a couple of days** upon reappearance. * After this initial painful phase subsides, the growth turns **skin-toned and painless**, yet it continues to be present. * The area remains **firm and stationary**, lacking any softness or mobility. **Medical Background:** * The first occurrence of this lump (a few years back) presented as a **red, swollen nodule** that eventually burst, discharging pus. * Since then, the lump has repeatedly manifested in the same location, typically appearing as a non-inflamed, skin-colored lump beneath the surface. * Following surgical excision in **October 2024**, the specimen was analyzed. * The **pathology report** revealed: *"Scar tissue with granulomatous inflammation, possibly due to a ruptured cyst, submandibular area."* It also identified fibrous tissue, an increase in fibrocytes, and a potential foreign body response. * Now, in **July 2025**, I've noticed the lump reappearing in the **exact same region**, raising my concerns about a possible recurrence of the previous issue, despite it having been surgically removed before.
Answers (1)
7/20/2025, 4:40:35 PM
OpenHealth AI
Summary: A recurring lump beneath your jaw, particularly after previous surgeries, may raise concerns about its nature. The characteristics you've described suggest possible scar tissue or a cystic lesion. It's important to monitor the lump and manage any discomfort while also keeping an eye on changes in its characteristics.
Explanation:
The lump you’ve noticed may be a result of scar tissue or residual effects from your previous condition. Your symptoms — soreness followed by a firm, stationary mass that isn't bothering you apart from discomfort during the first few days — suggest that it might not pose an immediate risk, but its persistence warrants attention.
Key points from your history:
- Recurrence in the same area after surgical intervention and diagnosis of granulomatous inflammation suggests that this may be a form of non-cancerous growth.
- The characteristics of the lump (firm, skin-toned) also indicate it may be scar tissue or a fibrous lesion rather than a more serious issue like a malignancy.
Next Steps:
-
Monitor the Lump:
- Keep a record of any changes, including size, firmness, color, or discomfort levels. If it becomes larger, painful, or presents any new symptoms, those would be critical signs to address.
-
Self-Care:
- You can apply warm compresses to the area when it’s sore, which may help with discomfort and encourage circulation. Avoid any pressure or trauma to the region.
-
Explore Symptoms:
- Note if there are any triggers that seem to correlate with its development, such as hormonal changes, allergies, or stress.
-
Follow-Up Care:
- While immediate consultation isn't required, you should consider scheduling a follow-up with your healthcare provider if the lump persists for longer or if you notice any new symptoms. Having your healthcare provider evaluate it, either with imaging (like an ultrasound) or through another examination, can provide clarity.
By remaining vigilant and proactive about monitoring the lump, you can manage your concerns effectively. If you have further questions or need additional support, feel free to reach out.
Related Questions
Strange Jelly-Like Substance Observed from Wound
I’m a 21-year-old female living with an auto-inflammatory condition known as hidradenitis suppurativa (HS). Recently, I've experienced a concerning issue with one of my wounds. This particular wound causes significant pain and excessive bleeding. However, whenever I attend to it, I tend to find this unusual jelly-like substance present within it. Interestingly, this phenomenon has only occurred with this one wound and not any of the others I have. The bleeding seems to persist until I manage to remove this jelly substance, after which it typically slows down and comes to a halt completely. I’m seeking insights into what this might signify so that I can effectively discuss it with my healthcare provider.
Healing Progress Post-GBS: Toe Concerns
I am a 28-year-old male, measuring 5 feet 10 inches and weighing 131 pounds. My current medications include Fomadatine and Zyrtec, prescribed due to my ongoing battle with Chronic Gastritis and SIBO. I maintain a healthy lifestyle, abstaining from both smoking and alcohol. My health concern revolves around the toe adjacent to my pinky toe on my left foot, as well as my pinky toe on the right foot. Since August of last year, I have been on the mend from Guillain Barre Syndrome. Recently, I've noticed that at night, the skin on my feet tends to turn a reddish pink, although this usually improves after I walk around. However, two of my toes have remained red, with one appearing slightly swollen. Generally, my pinky toes are quite thick, but the condition of my left foot's toe is worrisome for me. It seems that I'm unable to upload an image to illustrate my issue.
Swelling Beneath My Chin Near the Jawline
18-Year-Old Male: I'm reaching out to any medical professionals who might provide insights into my situation. I've been using marijuana since I was 14, but now, at 17, I'm making an effort to stop and have been clean for 18 days. Recently, I've discovered an unusual swelling located just beneath my chin, behind my jaw. It causes some discomfort when I move, yet it doesn’t feel painful continuously. I'm somewhat anxious that this could be indicative of a more serious issue, especially considering it's positioned near my chin's lymph nodes. Any advice or information would be greatly appreciated as it might help alleviate my worry.
Seeking Insights: My Journey with Undiagnosed Neurological Symptoms
Hello everyone, I'm a 34-year-old female grappling with neurological symptoms that first appeared in October, and I’m eager to hear from anyone who might have faced similar challenges. My journey began with unexpected migraines, blurred vision, and an ongoing sensation of being off-balance or intoxicated. Gradually, I began experiencing mainly sensory-related symptoms, such as tingling and burning sensations, feelings of extreme heat and cold, sharp pains radiating in my arms and back, as well as discomfort in my hands and toes, alongside intermittent numbness. I also endure varying degrees of weakness and heaviness in my right side, specifically my arm and leg, although I haven’t suffered complete functional loss. The nature of my symptoms is erratic; they fluctuate rather than consistently deteriorate. An MRI revealed mild, scattered lesions in the white matter, which were deemed nonspecific. Further tests from a lumbar puncture returned normal results, showing no markers of inflammation, and the oligoclonal bands were not present. A thorough range of lab tests yielded no significant findings. After evaluating my case, the neurology team suggested a possible diagnosis of MS and administered a three-day course of intravenous steroids. While I noticed a slight improvement in some sensory pain, my symptoms persist and continue to vary day by day. I still experience headaches and pressure in my head along with episodes of blurred vision, but there have been no new deficits since treatment. I am reaching out to connect with others who have had similar experiences. I would like to learn about the insights or diagnoses you encountered and what treatments proved beneficial (such as those related to migraine disorders, dysautonomia, or sensory neuropathy, for example). If you have navigated a similar path, I would greatly appreciate your sharing your story. Thank you!
Unusual Heart Sensation
I’m an 18-year-old, weighing 50 kilograms and standing at 170 centimeters (and yes, I’m aware that I’m quite slender). For the past couple of years, I’ve developed a habit of smoking about half a pack of cigarettes each day. So, the other day I was lying on my left side, relaxing, when I stumbled upon an unusual sensation. It felt as though my heart was pulsating so intensely that it was almost outside my body. Out of curiosity, I pressed a bit on the area and was instantly hit with a rush; my head started to tingle, my vision momentarily blurred, and it felt as though my heart dropped. It was as if my entire system had malfunctioned. Just for context, I’ve experienced something similar before after a ketamine overdose, and it persisted for about a month afterward, occurring occasionally while trying to sleep or during random moments in bed. This current episode has me quite anxious, especially since it hasn’t happened in a while, but this time felt particularly alarming.