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Sublingual gland-small lumps

07/24/2008

Question:

I have 2 small lumps in my rt. sublingual gland area that have been there for several years. They have become slightly larger over the past 6 months. They are easily felt with my tongue, but difficult to feel with my finger, and they seem rather deep. I estimate the largest is around 3 mm dia. Yesterday I saw an ENT and he felt for them very briefly, and said it was nothing and he would only be worried if they were growing and the suface mucosa was ulcerating. Even after I explained that even I couldn`t feel them with my finger and that they had indeed become larger, he was very dismissive. Should I pursue this and maybe seek some imaging to find out what these are? Or am I overreacting? Thanks!

Answer:

Given your description, it is unlikely that this is anything serious. For example, if this were a malignancy, the more typical course would be gradual enlargement over months or years, depending on how rapidly the tumor is growing. To have noticed these bumps for several years with no change would be unusual for malignancy. Inflammatory changes in the sublingual gland would be much more common and could have this presentation.

Imaging studies would not be very useful in this situation, in my opinion. If this is going to keep you awake at night with worry, then you may want to see an oral surgeon so a biopsy can be done. Once the tissue is examined by an oral pathologist, a definite diagnosis can be made.

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