Advice Needed

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Hi...I'm a 36 ear old male...seeking some advice. About a week ago I noticed a lump behind my knee. I ended up getting an ultrasound which indicates a benign appearing superficial lymph node in the popliteal fossa. I wasn't even aware there were nodes down there. I've also experienced some lower back pain over the last month but that's probably because I let my kids jump on my back...(not my best idea

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  • timon00
    timon00 Member Posts: 3
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    Looks like my comment got cut

    Looks like my comment got cut off....so there aren't any other symptoms other than that intermittment back pain but I'm wondering how prudent you think it would be to have a biopsy done anyways but I also don't know if there is one available for a node just under 1 cm....doctor said just to leave it for a few weeks and see if it goes away or enlarges but i'd rather know something 3 weeks earlier than later..she seemed suprised the node was there in the first place, said it was odd (only fuels my concern..the oddity of it)..the US mentions echogenic or fatty hilum, oval shape, s/l ratio of .44..etc..which i guess points to benign but I'm really not sure what to do..any advice or guidance? I don't like the idea of cutting up the body if it isn't necessary but I have no experience in this area and it seems neither does the pcp... 

  • Birder
    Birder Member Posts: 29
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    timon00 said:

    Looks like my comment got cut

    Looks like my comment got cut off....so there aren't any other symptoms other than that intermittment back pain but I'm wondering how prudent you think it would be to have a biopsy done anyways but I also don't know if there is one available for a node just under 1 cm....doctor said just to leave it for a few weeks and see if it goes away or enlarges but i'd rather know something 3 weeks earlier than later..she seemed suprised the node was there in the first place, said it was odd (only fuels my concern..the oddity of it)..the US mentions echogenic or fatty hilum, oval shape, s/l ratio of .44..etc..which i guess points to benign but I'm really not sure what to do..any advice or guidance? I don't like the idea of cutting up the body if it isn't necessary but I have no experience in this area and it seems neither does the pcp... 

    Lymph Node

    There are some lymph nodes in our legs.  The 3-4 week waiting period is pretty standard operating procedure wherein you find out if it was just a "reactive" lymph node doing its job. Under 1 cm may well be a reactive node and will go away. If it doesn't, follow your conscience and do what you feel you need to do next.  BTW, needle biopsies are done under local anesthetic and are quick and painless. Best wishes

  • Max Former Hodgkins Stage 3
    Max Former Hodgkins Stage 3 Member Posts: 3,812 Member
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    timon00 said:

    Looks like my comment got cut

    Looks like my comment got cut off....so there aren't any other symptoms other than that intermittment back pain but I'm wondering how prudent you think it would be to have a biopsy done anyways but I also don't know if there is one available for a node just under 1 cm....doctor said just to leave it for a few weeks and see if it goes away or enlarges but i'd rather know something 3 weeks earlier than later..she seemed suprised the node was there in the first place, said it was odd (only fuels my concern..the oddity of it)..the US mentions echogenic or fatty hilum, oval shape, s/l ratio of .44..etc..which i guess points to benign but I'm really not sure what to do..any advice or guidance? I don't like the idea of cutting up the body if it isn't necessary but I have no experience in this area and it seems neither does the pcp... 

    tomon,Objectively, it does

    timon,

    Objectively, it does not sound like you have too much cause for worry at this point.  There is no real way to link your back pain to the leg node thus far, and it is more likely that they are unrelated than related.   I have never heard of a case of lymphoma discovered in a knee pit, but no doubt it has happened to someone at some point.

    Lymphoma almost always enters bone, if it enters it at all, very late stage, which is another reason to doubt that the pain is lymphoma-induced.   I would follow your doc's advice and wait for a while, based on your observations.

     

    max

  • timon00
    timon00 Member Posts: 3
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    tomon,Objectively, it does

    timon,

    Objectively, it does not sound like you have too much cause for worry at this point.  There is no real way to link your back pain to the leg node thus far, and it is more likely that they are unrelated than related.   I have never heard of a case of lymphoma discovered in a knee pit, but no doubt it has happened to someone at some point.

    Lymphoma almost always enters bone, if it enters it at all, very late stage, which is another reason to doubt that the pain is lymphoma-induced.   I would follow your doc's advice and wait for a while, based on your observations.

     

    max

    Thanks to your both for the

    Thanks to your both for the feedback. I've been told it could go away on its own or stay this way for months. Of course, insurance won't cover the removal since they currently deem it to be more of a "psychological" removal than a medically necessary one. Thanks again for the feedback and my best wishes to both of you.