Daughter undergoing tests UPDATE

Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers. We are in a semi-holding pattern. After my daughter explained that she is a flutist and didn't want to risk any facial nerve damage, the doctor at the imaging center postponed the fine needle aspiration/biospy and said she should go to an ENT. So far she has seen her general practitioner and the radiologist at the imaging center. It makes sense to me that she see an ENT.

Meanwhile my husband who works at a comprehensive cancer center has sent the ultrasound reports to his head and  neck surgeon. There is a history of this mass "coming and going", so the leading hypothesis is that it is something called chronic sialedanitis which involves a blockage of the parotid (salivary gland). Sometimes small "stones" or calcium deposits will cause it, other times a benign tumor, and other times lack of saliva production/infection.

Most likely the ENT will prescibe a course of steroids and do a workup. If it is chronic sialendanitis a procedure which kind of roto-rooters out the duct can help. Any minimally invasive procedure is better for her as it reduces the risk of damaging the trigeminal nerve that runs around and branches at the parotid gland. I'll keep you posted.

Between my husband's nasopharyngeal tumor, my daughter's parotid gland, and my basal cell carcinoma on the nose...we are keeping the head and neck docs busy! So far my son is the only one wo has mercifully escaped health problems from the neck up!

Barbara