Neck ultrasound results? Possible mass? Is this serious?

[jbcbcb10]

32yo f, 160lbs, trouble swallowing.

I had an ultrasound today on my neck because I’ve had some swollen lymph nodes and trouble swallowing. I thought it was kind of silly until my results came back. My doctor has ordered a CT, but how concerned should I be? I’m a nervous wreck right now. Has anyone experienced anything similar??

Here is the report from my ultrasound:

IMPRESSION: Indeterminate shadowing/possible mass within the level 1 along the left side of the neck. Recommend CT soft tissue neck with contrast to exclude malignancy.  Enlarged right cervical chain lymph node as above. Attention on follow-up CT soft tissue neck is recommended.  

Report dictation location: W2TW70C3

Narrative
EXAM DESCRIPTION: US HEAD NECK SOFT TISSUE;5/20/2024  

HISTORY: trouble swallowing and pain near ears.  

COMPARISON: None available.  

TECHNIQUE: Multiplanar real-time ultrasonography of the soft tissues of the neck with grayscale and color Doppler ultrasound.  

FINDINGS: Indeterminate area of focal shadowing and possible irregular mass seen and the left neck at level 1, ultrasound images 48-51. CT soft tissue neck with contrast is recommended to exclude malignancy. Enlarged right cervical chain lymph node measures 1.8 x 0.7 cm. Attention on CT soft tissue neck. Other smaller normal appearing lymph nodes are seen.