Lymphadenopathy

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Lymphadenopathy
Lymphadanopathy.JPG

Cervical lymphadenopathy in someone with mononucleosis
ICD-10 I88, L04, R59.1
ICD-9 289.1-289.3, 683, 785.6
DiseasesDB 22225
MedlinePlus 001301
eMedicine ped/1333
MeSH D008206

Lymphadenopathy is a term meaning "disease of the lymph nodes."[1] It is, however, almost synonymously used with "swollen/enlarged lymph nodes". It could be due to infection, auto-immune disease, or malignancy.

Inflammation of a lymph node is called lymphadenitis.[2] In practice, the distinction between lymphadenopathy and lymphadenitis is rarely made. Inflammation of lymph channels is called lymphangitis.[3] Infectious lymphadenitides affecting cervical lymph nodes are often called scrofula (see Tuberculous cervical lymphadenitis).

Contents

Types[edit]

Micrograph of dermatopathic lymphadenopathy, a type of lymphadenopathy. H&E stain.

Tangier disease (ABCA1 deficiency) may also cause lymphadenopathy.

Cause[edit]

Enlarged lymph nodes are a common symptom in a number of infectious and malignant diseases. It is a recognized symptom of many diseases, of which some are as follows:

  • Immunocompromised etiology: AIDS. Generalized lymphadenopathy is an early sign of infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the virus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). "Lymphadenopathy syndrome" has been used to describe the first symptomatic stage of HIV progression, preceding a diagnosis of AIDS.[5]

Benign (reactive) lymphadenopathy[edit]

There are three distinct patterns of benign lymphadenopathy:

  • Follicular hyperplasia - Seen in infections, autoimmune disorders, and nonspecific reactions.
  • Paracortical hyperplasia - Seen in viral infections, skin diseases, and nonspecific reactions.
  • Sinus histiocytosis - Seen in lymph nodes draining limbs, inflammatory lesions, and malignancies.

Bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy[edit]

CT scan of the chest showing lymphadenopathy in the mediastinum due to sarcoidosis.

Bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy (BHL) is a radiographic term that describes the enlargement of mediastinal lymph nodes. It is easily and most commonly identified by a chest x-ray.

Causes of BHL[edit]

The following are causes of BHL:[6]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "lymphadenopathy" at Dorland's Medical Dictionary
  2. ^ "lymphadenitis" at Dorland's Medical Dictionary
  3. ^ "lymphangitis" at Dorland's Medical Dictionary
  4. ^ a b c Status and anamnesis, Anders Albinsson. Page 12
  5. ^ Mindel & Tenant-Flowers (2001) ABC of AIDS; natural history and management of early HIV infection, BMJ, 322 p1290 – 1293
  6. ^ M. Longmore, I. Wilkinson, T. Turmezei, CK. Cheug (2007). Oxford Handbook of Clinical Medicine 7th Edition. United States, New York: Oxford University Press. p. 179. ISBN [[Special:BookSources/0-19-356887-1|0-19-356887-1 [[Category:Articles with invalid ISBNs]]]] Check |isbn= value (help). 
  7. ^ Beers, Mark (2006). The Merck Manual. 

External links[edit]

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