How to distinguish lymph node swelling from other lumps near ear? - Dr. Honey Ashok

There can be many causes for swelling around the ear, starting from a lymph node, to a lipoma. That is collection of fat cells which forms a small tumour around the ear. It can be a sebaceous cyst. Sebaceous cyst are the fat secreting or the oil secreting glands that swell up and forms a swelling to distinguish all these things, one criteria is if there is an infection, these all can swell up. So if you have an infection in the ear or the scalp, you will find a tender swelling or a painful swelling in front of the ear or behind the ear. Usually there can be fever along with it or when you palpate it will be mobile, indicating a superficial swelling. This usually settles with antibiotic. That are the first criteria which you can distinguish from other swellings. Lipomas they are usually non tender. There is no change in size with antibiotics and sebaceous cyst is also the smear. It won’t be painful. There can be slight discharge from the punctum which can be bad smelling.