Very concerned about lymphoma

Dear Ask The Doctor: I have enlarged lymph nodes in my neck and have had them for a year in March. I seem to be finding more buti am not sure whether or not it is because i am looking for them. Really concerned about them, had blood tests done and all came back normal and the doctor said if i had lymphoma it would appear in my blood work. I had an ultrasound on my neck yesterday and the radiologist said that nothing seemed abnormal. However, i am very concerned that i have lymphoma after reading on the internet. Should i be concerned about lymphoma?

Dear Rosalind: Lymphomas are cancer of the lymphatic tissue. Since your blood work and ultrasound of the neck are normal, it is probable that your enlarged lymph nodes are most probably due to a viral or bacterial infection and not due to lymphoma. Also you have not mentioned about any signs of fever or weight loss.

If the enlarged lymph nodes are still present and can be felt, an excision or needle biopsy would help in determining the cause.