Thyroid nodules are extremely common, and may frequently turn out to be malignant. Other neck lumps may arise from Lymph nodes, blood vessel walls or other glands. Most of these lumps require an Ultrasonographic exam following clinical evaluation, This often means a second appointment with a sonologist, and following up with the report. Fortunately, Dr. Bhattacharyya is ACS (American College of Surgeons) trained in Head & neck USG which means we do our own USGs & can usually get to the diagnosis sooner, and can save you time and worry.
Find Out MoreThyroid nodules are extremely common, and usually diagnosed incidentally; so much so that there is term for it- incidentaloma! These nodules may often turn out to be malignant but the good news is these are some of the cancers with the absolute best results- with over 95% cure rates when treated optimally!
When you visit us for thyroid lumps, we will usually do an in-office sonography. You may need a needle sampling if it appears suspicious on USG. These nodules may sometimes be indeterminate and treatment might require staging biopsy/ genetic testing panels.
If you have any Thyroid test results or other blood labs, dont forget to carry them.
Neck lumps are ubiquitous, and possible causes are too many to list. They are most commonly seen as a result of inflammation due to lymph nodal enlargement, but tumors, cysts and salivary gland diseases may also present in a similar fashion. Fortunately an in-office USG can reliably diagnose the cause in over 90% of cases, though confirmatory tests are often indicated.
Reduction of a lump in size with Antibiotics does not rule out an underlying malignancy if other clinical features are suspicious and good practice may indicate a needle biopsy as a confirmatory test. It is our belief that as regards a malignancy being sure is the only acceptable answer.
Salivary glands are paired glands located under the jaw bone & just in front of the ear. These glands may often be involved by stone formation within the duct, and subsequent bacterial infection. Fortunately more than 50% of these stones will pass naturally, and can be seen on USG. If you have been suffering from recurrent bouts of salivary gland stones and inflammation it may be due to chronic stasis secondary to intraglandular fibrosis. In such situations, it may be worthwhile to consider removal of the gland. Smaller stones may often be addressed intra-orally by sialendoscopy.
Other lesions in the salivary glands are a variety of possible tumors ranging from benign pleomorphic adenomas to high grade carcinomas. These surgeries should be carried out under magnification and with possible use of nerve monitoring to improve outcomes.
Swellings around the jaw are most frequently seen after a recent dental procedure, with bacterial infection seeding to the local tissues Other causes can be infectious or retention cysts of minor salivary glands.
Most of these can be treated adequately with appropriate antibiotics, but sometimes a localized pocket of pus may need to be drained-either with a USG guided needle aspiration procedure or with a standard drainage under local anaesthesia. Clear knowledge of anatomy is critical as the marginal branch of the facial nerve is in this very location and if injured can cause lower lip paresis.
Tumors are second only to infections a the most common cause of neck lumps seen in Otolaryngology practices. It is for this reason that our threshold for performing USG in such cases is extremely low, as the consequences of missing it can be disastrous to the patient.
They can arise from benign tumors, but can also be due to spread of cancerous cells from another tumor hiding somewhere in the back of your throat. Don’t be surprised if we want to endoscopically examine your nose and throat, as these tumors can sometimes be very small and tricky. USG, Needle biopsy and other specialized tests may be needed in many cases, and surgery may be indicated more often than not. Regardless, we will be a part of your team and guide you through the entire process, and help you get through it!
Vascular lesions in the neck may be small, causing primarily a blemish or extremely large ones presenting as a mass. These tumors are often amenable to non surgical treatment using LASER or sclerosing agents. Regardless of the diagnosis, you can be assured we will always lay out all the available options in detail so you can make an informed decision.
All good surgeons can give adequate outcomes 85% of the times, however the unending passion and joy of surgery is striving for the last 15%. That means doing all surgeries under magnification to give you the finest scars possible, using surgical adjuncts to promote healing, reducing your downtime.
Dr. Bhattacharyya has trained at many of the premier institutes in India and abroad, including the famed Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN. Extensive use of endoscopes, tissue glues, stem cell rich substrates to promote healing, usage of nerve monitoring whenever required are all steps we take to ensure we give you the absolute best chance at great outcomes. Do discuss with us in detail about your surgery, and if you would like a complimentary surgical video, where possible.
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