Question 1

just discovered what a mastoid process is. my left one feels bigger then my right. doc said examined and said no enlarged lymph nodes. normal for one mastoid process to be slightly bigger then other?

Accepted Answer

Yes: It is not unusual for there to be slight asymmetry.

Question 2

can scm cause mastoid process to be slightly enlarged. it's not sore not tender no ear infection. it's more razed up, rounder,  than the other one ?

Accepted Answer

Normal variant: This is likely a normal variant. Your mastoid processes do not have to be symmetric. Likely not related to your SCM. While one SCM may be larger than the other especially if spasming (e.g.torticollis) it should not affect your mastoid process.

Question 3

knot on mastoid process bonbehindeear no other symptoms 31 yr old female been there month or 2 could it be serious  or should i worry hasnt got bigger?

Accepted Answer

This is a common: Area for a cyst or an enlarged lymph node. If it is not tender and you have no ear or scalp issues it is more likely a cyst. You probably should have it looked at by your family doctor.

Question 4

i've been having pain in my mastoid process and i haven't done anything to it. it feels swollen compared to my other side. any advice?

Accepted Answer

Tmj: You likely have tmj.  A way to tell is to open and close the jaw with a finger placed in the TMJ socket which is roughly the pocket created when one opens the mouth and places a finger directly in front of the ear canal right at the level of the sideburns.  Softer foods, warm compresses and Motrin should help. Avoid gum chewing. Other option is migraine. A swollen mastoid is rare see ENT or get ct.

Question 5

i have a pea sized bump on my mastoid process. it has been there for a year and the swelling goes up and down. what is causing it?

Accepted Answer

?lymhnode: Have an exam. Some nodes can be chronically reactive over years. Blood counts, exams and if needed a biopsy can even be performed with chronicity. Best wishes. (did you ask this similar question before?)

Question 6

occasionally i get this dull pain that starts in the bottom row of my teeth, radiates to jaw, mastoid process/occipital bone and ear. the pain is a 6-7, and only happens on right side. not occurring over often, but what could be wrong? its painful?

Accepted Answer

: There are textbooks full of possibilities. Anything from wisdom tooth inflammation to abscessed teeth to neurologic disorders too malocclusion to pernicious habits to..... Start with your General Den test. If everything is healthy then next stop is your General Physician. If everything there is clear, your Dentist and your Physician may refer you to specialists for evaluations.

Question 7

can tense/tight  scm cause dull pain in mastoid process?

Accepted Answer

Yes: If your muscles are tight, it can cause pain at the attachment points.

Question 8

what causes a lymph-node on your mastoid bone to stay enlarged for years?

Accepted Answer

Unlikely: Lymphatic system absorbs/carries things too big to go into arteries/veins like bacteria eaten by white cells and digested food. Lymph nodes "taste" lymph for bacteria/viruses/cancers, etc. When it detects a problem, it alerts the immune system and your body reacts.They enlarge in response to the inflammation they create when they react. They shrink when all is well. Persistence mandates evaluation.

Question 9

my lymph node has been swollen for a year and the swelling goes up and down. its located on the mastoid process?

Accepted Answer

See doc: Have an exam.  Some nodes can be chronically reactive over years.  Blood counts, exams and if needed a biopsy can even be performed with chronicity.  Best wishes.

Question 10

dime-sized hard mass on mastoid process...has been present for 3+ weeks. not sure what it could be? a little sore at times when pressure applied. ?

Accepted Answer

Hard mass: It may be a lymph node, but evaluation by a doctor is necessary to establish an accurate diagnosis.

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Doctor answers about:

Enlarged mastoid process

A member asked:

Just discovered what a mastoid process is. my left one feels bigger then my right. doc said examined and said no enlarged lymph nodes. normal for one mastoid process to be slightly bigger then other?

A member asked:

Can scm cause mastoid process to be slightly enlarged. it's not sore not tender no ear infection. it's more razed up, rounder, than the other one ?

A member asked:

Knot on mastoid process bonbehindeear no other symptoms 31 yr old female been there month or 2 could it be serious or should i worry hasnt got bigger?

A member asked:

I've been having pain in my mastoid process and i haven't done anything to it. it feels swollen compared to my other side. any advice?

A member asked:

I have a pea sized bump on my mastoid process. it has been there for a year and the swelling goes up and down. what is causing it?

A member asked:

Occasionally i get this dull pain that starts in the bottom row of my teeth, radiates to jaw, mastoid process/occipital bone and ear. the pain is a 6-7, and only happens on right side. not occurring over often, but what could be wrong? its painful?

A member asked:

Can tense/tight scm cause dull pain in mastoid process?

A member asked:

What causes a lymph-node on your mastoid bone to stay enlarged for years?

A member asked:

My lymph node has been swollen for a year and the swelling goes up and down. its located on the mastoid process?

A member asked:

Dime-sized hard mass on mastoid process...has been present for 3+ weeks. not sure what it could be? a little sore at times when pressure applied. ?

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