An earache that won't settle, especially with a tender lump below your ear, can send your mind to worst-case scenarios. If you've found yourself searching "can lymphoma cause ear pain," you're not alone, and the answer is more reassuring than you might fear.
Lymphoma can affect lymph nodes and tissue in the head and neck, and in rare cases it causes ear pain or fullness. But ear pain on its own is very rarely a sign of cancer. Most earaches come from infections, jaw problems or other common, treatable causes, and a doctor can sort out which applies to you.
What lymphoma is
Lymphoma is a cancer that starts in lymphocytes, white blood cells that are part of your immune system. These cells live in lymph nodes, small bean-shaped glands throughout the body, and in the spleen, tonsils, bone marrow and other tissues. The two main types are Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Lymphoma is often treatable, and many people live for years or decades after diagnosis. Outlook depends on the type and stage.
Can lymphoma cause ear pain? What the connection looks like
There are lymph nodes in front of and behind your ears, below your jaw and along your neck. In rare cases, lymphoma can cause ear symptoms when:
- An enlarged lymph node near the ear presses on nearby tissue
- Lymphoma involves the tonsils or the back of the nose and throat, blocking the tube that drains the middle ear and causing fullness, muffled hearing or fluid
- Lymphoma involves the salivary gland just in front of the ear, which can cause swelling there
So, can lymphoma cause ear pain? Rarely, and even then the first sign is usually a painless lump. Swollen lymph nodes near the ear usually mean your immune system is fighting a nearby infection, such as a cold, sore throat or ear infection.
Common causes of ear pain
Most causes of ear pain have nothing to do with lymphoma:
- Middle ear infection, often after a cold, with pain, muffled hearing and sometimes fever
- Swimmer’s ear, an infection of the ear canal that hurts more when you tug the ear
- Pressure changes or blocked Eustachian tubes from colds, allergies or flying
- Earwax buildup, which can cause fullness and muffled hearing
- Referred ear pain, felt in the ear but coming from somewhere else, such as a sore throat, a dental problem or the jaw joint (temporomandibular joint, or TMJ)
- Neck and jaw muscle tension, which can cause aching around the ear, especially with jaw clenching or teeth grinding
If your doctor finds no ear problem but you notice jaw clicking or tight neck muscles, the pain may be coming from muscles and joints, and care for neck pain or jaw tension may help.
Lymphoma symptoms to know
Lymphoma symptoms vary, but these are the most common:
- A painless, swollen lymph node in the neck, armpit or groin that doesn't go away
- Fevers that come and go without an infection
- Drenching night sweats
- Weight loss you can't explain
- Ongoing tiredness
- Itching all over the body
Each of these has other, far more common causes. A tender node that shows up during a cold is usually a normal immune response.
When to get ear pain or a lump checked
Make an appointment with your primary care doctor if you have:
- A swollen lymph node with no clear cause, that keeps growing, or that is still there after two to four weeks
- A node that feels hard or rubbery, or doesn't move when you press on it
- Ear pain that lasts more than a few days or keeps returning, especially with a lasting sore throat or hoarseness
- One-sided ear fullness or hearing loss that doesn't clear up
- Unexplained fevers, night sweats or weight loss
Seek same-day care for ear pain with a high fever, or swelling, redness and tenderness behind the ear. Call 911 if you have trouble breathing or swallowing, a severe headache with a stiff neck, or sudden weakness or drooping on one side of the face.
Your doctor may order blood tests or imaging and refer you to an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist. Only a biopsy, usually removing part or all of a lymph node, can confirm lymphoma.
Frequently asked questions
Does a swollen lymph node behind the ear mean cancer?
Usually not. The nodes behind the ear drain the scalp and the skin around the ear, so they often swell with a scalp rash or infection, an insect bite, an ear infection or a viral illness, then shrink over a few weeks. A node that keeps growing or lasts longer than that, especially with fevers, night sweats or weight loss, should be checked by your doctor.
Can lymphoma cause hearing loss?
Rarely. If lymphoma involves the tissue at the back of the nose and throat, it can block the tube that drains the middle ear, causing fluid, fullness and muffled hearing. Fluid behind the eardrum is far more often caused by colds or allergies. In adults, though, fluid in one ear that doesn't clear should be checked by an ENT specialist to rule out a blockage.
What does a lymphoma lump feel like?
Lymphoma nodes are often painless and feel firm or rubbery under the skin, and they may slowly get bigger over weeks or months. But you can't tell what a lump is by touch alone. Some infections cause firm nodes, and some lymphoma nodes are tender. A doctor's exam, and sometimes imaging or a biopsy, is the only way to know.
Get help for jaw and neck pain at PMR
Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation of NY & CT (PMR) doesn't diagnose or treat cancer, so see your primary care doctor first for any lump or lasting ear pain. If your exam finds no medical cause and jaw or neck tension seems to be the source, physical therapy may help. Request an appointment and our team will contact you to schedule a visit.