In line with its mission, the Editorial Board of MedTvoiLokony makes every effort to provide reliable medical content supported by the latest scientific knowledge. The additional flag “Checked Content” indicates that the article has been reviewed by or written directly by a physician. This two-step verification: a medical journalist and a doctor allows us to provide the highest quality content in line with current medical knowledge.
Our commitment in this area has been appreciated, among others, by by the Association of Journalists for Health, which awarded the Editorial Board of MedTvoiLokony with the honorary title of the Great Educator.
Lymphadenopathy is nothing more than the well-known enlarged lymph nodes. These are tiny structures that are found throughout the human body. The most important job of lymph nodes is to control the immune system. That is why sometimes when we are sick we can feel the enlarged lymph nodes in the upper neck under our fingers. Enlarged nodes appear when our body tries to fight a bacterial or viral infection, but unfortunately they can be a harbinger of more serious health problems. They may also suggest a malignant tumor or AIDS. If we notice that our lymph nodes have grown larger, it is worth consulting a doctor.
Why does lymphadenopathy appear?
Limfadenopatia, or enlarged lymph nodes, have a different background. One of the reasons is the proliferation of macrophages and lymphocytes due to stimulation with viral or bacterial antigens. On lymphadenopathy the node inflammatory infiltration or node neoplastic infiltration are also influenced. It may be associated with primary malignant proliferation of lymphatic cells. Interestingly, lymphadenopathy we divide into general and regional. As you can guess, the latter manifests itself in the enlargement of nodes in given places. It is also the more common form lymphadenopathy. Among others, acute or chronic infections, toxoplasmosis and sarcoidosis are responsible for its occurrence. Limfadenpatia regional also occurs during inflammation within the lymphatic drainage area and when there are tumor infiltrates on the nearest nodes. Limfadenopatia general disease occurs when the body is struggling with HIV, infectious mononucleosis, filariasis, bubonic plague or systemic diseases.
Limfadenopatia non-cancerous is usually characterized by painful enlargement of the lymph nodes, even above two centimeters. Other symptoms they are related to the place where the enlarged lymph nodes are located.
Support your lymphatic system with the Lymph Formula – Panaseus dietary supplement, which you can find at an attractive price at Medonet Market.
Cervical lymphadenopathy
Enlarged lymph nodes we most often associate them with those located on the neck, which we can feel under our fingers during a viral or bacterial infection. However, these are not the only reasons cervical lymphadenopathy. It is also associated with immune disorders, endocrine diseases, including hyperthyroidism, storage diseases and malignancies. Importantly, enlarged lymph nodes differ depending on the condition they were caused by. For example, if the knots are hard, it may suggest cancerous lesions, and if the consistency is soft, infection. When assessing cervical lymphadenopathy the mobility in relation to the substrate, subcutaneous tissue and skin is also important, as well as the intensity of pain generated by the enlarged nodes. Limfadenopatia caused by an infection is treated with antibiotics. In other cases, a visit to the hospital is necessary.
Lymphadenopathy of the chest
Limfadenopatia may also appear in mediastinum. In this case, the enlarged nodes can be caused by sarcoidosis, which most often occurs on the lungs and the so-called lymph nodes of the cavities. Lymphadenopathy of the chest in this case it causes coughing and chest pain. The patient feels tired, has no appetite, is losing weight, and the body temperature is elevated, sometimes reaching even 40 degrees. Enlarged lymph nodes within mediastinum they may also be evidence of large B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a proliferative disease of the lymphatic system. Symptoms of this disease are pain felt in the cage, shortness of breath. There may also be swelling of the arms, neck and face. Such symptoms are associated with the pressure of the lymph nodes on the veins in the chest.
Find out why lymphoma is so terrifying
However, the reasons lymphadenopathy mediastinum may be different. They can be determined by subjecting the patient to an x-ray of the lungs. If the patient is struggling with sarcoidosis, the doctor will be able to determine the severity of the disease on the basis of the examination. A specialist may also order a morphology or bronchoscopy, which involves placing the tube in the mouth and bringing it to the respiratory system. The important information is that sarcoidosis is a disease with a good prognosis. Almost 90% of patients go into spontaneous remission. However, if the disease progresses, it may result in respiratory failure. In such a situation, the patient must take steroid drugs. A doctor who wants to find out if a patient has mediastinal lymphoma orders him / her to perform a biopsy, which in this case is called mediastinoscopy. The examination is based on placing a tube with a camera in the patient’s chest. The doctor makes an incision, inserts a tool, and then takes a section of the lymph node tissue. If it turns out that the suspicions were correct, the lymphoma is most often treated with chemotherapy. Unfortunately, it is possible to relapse. The treatment then continues. There are also other methods to fight lymphoma. Among other things, radiotherapy, steroids and monoclonal antibodies are used.