Can lymph nodes remained permanently enlarged following a bad cold? 5 years ago i had a bad chest infection and the lymph nodes in my neck swelled up to 3.5cm and are still that size. fna was clear and doc said they can remain enlarged permanently?

If the architecture of the lymphnode was changed with fibrosis that may happen also it is possible that recurrent low grade infection or inflammation keeps the lymph node active. However FNA is not 100% the fact that it has not increase and more lymph node formation is reassuring, though there is possibility of mycobacterial infection that may not have been picked up.