Lymph node enlargement
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Updates to Synonym Attributes
Updates to Synonym Attributes
Updates to Synonym Attributes
Updates to Synonym Attributes
Updates to Synonym Attributes
Updates to Article Attributes
Lymph node enlargement (rarely lymphadenomegaly) is often used synonymously with lymphadenopathy, which is not strictly correct.
Terminology
Lymphadenopathy (or adenopathy) is, if anything, a broader term, referring to any pathology of lymph nodes, not necessarily resulting in increased size; this includes abnormal number of nodes, or derangement of internal architecture (e.g. cystic or necrotic nodes). In addition, increase in size is not always pathologic; some nodes are bigger than others normally (e.g compare jugulodigastric nodes to mesenteric nodes), and reactive nodes are a healthy response and do not imply pathology of the node itself.
There are approximately 600 lymph nodes, of which only some are available to direct palpation. Only some nodes in the(including neck, axilla and groin) should ever be palpable and these should be soft and non-tender.
Pathology
Aetiology
There are many (many) causes of lymph node enlargement which include:
- infective (acute suppurative)
- reactive
- follicular hyperplasia
- paracortical hyperplasia
- sinus histiocytosis
- granulomatous
- neoplastic
- drug-induced, e.g. cyclosporin, phenytoin, methotrexate
- lipid storage diseases
- IgG4-related sclerosing disease 7
Radiographic features
The upper limit in size of a normal node varies with location, and of course the size cut-off used depends on the desired sensitivity and specificity.
Cervical lymph nodes
Size criteria
- most nodes: 10 mm in short-axis
- submental and submandibular: 15 mm
- retropharyngeal: 8 mm
There is an error rate of 10-20% if using size criteria alone.
The long-to-short axis ratio has also been proposed 2 to help evaluate enlarged nodes in the setting of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. When nodes have a ratio of >2 (i.e. long and flat) 95% are benign. When the ratio is less than 2 (i.e. rounder) then a similar proportion are malignant.
Size-independent criteria
- loss of fatty hilum
- focal necrosis
- cystic necrotic nodes
Mediastinal lymph nodes
In general 10 mm is considered the upper limit for normal nodes (short axis diameter) 3-5. This does not of course take into consideration the fact that all nodal metastases must start at microscopic size, and thus using only size criteria will miss micrometastases. In the setting of lung cancer staging a sensitivity of 0.83 and a specificity of 0.82 are quoted for CT 5.
Mesenteric lymph nodes
Mesenteric nodes are increasingly visualised as a result of multidetector volume acquisition and are most easily seen on coronal reformats.
Although 3 mm has previously been used as the upper limit for the short axis diameter of mesenteric lymph nodes, up to 39% of healthy normal patients have larger nodes than this. As such a figure of 5 mm is considered normal 6 (see: normal mesenteric lymph nodes).
See also
-<p><strong>Lymph node enlargement</strong> (rarely <strong>lymphadenomegaly</strong>) is often used synonymously with <strong>lymphadenopathy</strong>, which is not strictly correct.</p><h4>Terminology</h4><p>Lymphadenopathy (or adenopathy) is, if anything, a broader term, referring to any pathology of lymph nodes, not necessarily resulting in increased size; this includes abnormal number of nodes, or derangement of internal architecture (e.g. cystic or necrotic nodes). In addition, increase in size is not always pathologic; some nodes are bigger than others normally (e.g compare <a href="/articles/jugulodigastric-nodes">jugulodigastric nodes</a> to <a href="/articles/mesenteric-nodes">mesenteric nodes</a>), and reactive nodes are a healthy response and do not imply pathology of the node itself.</p><p>There are approximately 600 lymph nodes, of which only some are available to direct palpation. Only some nodes in the neck, axilla and groin should ever be palpable and these should be soft and non-tender.</p><h4>Pathology</h4><h5>Aetiology</h5><p>There are many (many) causes of lymph node enlargement which include:</p><ul>- +<p><strong>Lymph node enlargement</strong> (rarely <strong>lymphadenomegaly</strong>) is often used synonymously with <strong>lymphadenopathy</strong>, which is not strictly correct.</p><h4>Terminology</h4><p>Lymphadenopathy (or adenopathy) is, if anything, a broader term, referring to any pathology of lymph nodes, not necessarily resulting in increased size; this includes abnormal number of nodes, or derangement of internal architecture (e.g. cystic or necrotic nodes). In addition, increase in size is not always pathologic; some nodes are bigger than others normally (e.g compare <a href="/articles/jugulodigastric-nodes">jugulodigastric nodes</a> to <a href="/articles/mesenteric-nodes">mesenteric nodes</a>), and reactive nodes are a healthy response and do not imply pathology of the node itself.</p><p>There are approximately 600 lymph nodes, of which only some are available to direct palpation. Only some nodes (including neck, axilla and groin) should ever be palpable and these should be soft and non-tender.</p><h4>Pathology</h4><h5>Aetiology</h5><p>There are many (many) causes of lymph node enlargement which include:</p><ul>
Systems changed:
- Oncology