What is the mediastinal lymph node

Mediastinal lymph nodes are a clinical infectious disease that can lead to swollen lymph nodes, lymph node compression of the esophagus, and difficulty swallowing and breathing. Patients with mediastinal lymph nodes need to be examined, and the cause and onset of the mediastinal lymph nodes can be found through scanning, and the condition can be diagnosed. Based on the diagnosis of the condition, treatment and prevention can be carried out. This is the entire treatment process of the disease, which needs to be carried out step by step, and must not be rushed.

Clinical manifestations

There may be no special symptoms, but enlarged lymph nodes may compress the esophagus and cause difficulty in swallowing, and may also compress the trachea and cause difficulty in breathing. Compression of the superior vena cava may cause superior vena cava obstruction syndrome, in which the patient experiences swelling of the head, face, and upper chest. Symptoms of mediastinal compression are mostly caused by malignant tumors. A few tuberculous mediastinal lymphadenopathy forming mediastinal granulomas or extensive fibrosis can also cause superior vena cava obstruction syndrome. Patients with superior vena cava syndrome may experience facial and upper body edema, chest tightness, dyspnea, inability to lie flat, blood circulation disorders, reduced skin elasticity, and susceptibility to skin infections.

examine

CT scan is the preferred method for diagnosing mediastinal lymphadenopathy. CT enhanced scan combined with CT scan, clinical manifestations, and laboratory tests is of great significance for the diagnosis of the cause of mediastinal lymphadenopathy.

diagnosis

The normal size standard of mediastinal lymph nodes is the basis for diagnosing mediastinal lymph node enlargement by chest CT scan and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Referring to the American Thoracic Society's mediastinal lymph node zoning method, the length, width, and thickness of the largest lymph node in each region of the mediastinum were obtained by measuring multiple normal adult corpses, and the maximum average value of each diameter was used as the evaluation standard for lymph node enlargement in each region of the mediastinum: the long diameter standards of the largest lymph node in each region of the mediastinum were 10, 12, 15, and 25 mm, respectively, the wide diameter standards were 10 and 13 mm, respectively, and the thick diameter standard was 8 mm in each region.

Clinically, pathological analysis is the gold standard for diagnosing diseases, and the only way to obtain pathological specimens from the mediastinum is mediastinoscopy. Therefore, mediastinoscopy is the gold standard for confirming mediastinal tumors.

treat

There are many causes of this disease. Common diseases include sarcoidosis, lymphadenopathy, chronic inflammation of lymph nodes, lymphoma and metastatic lymph nodes. The treatments vary greatly due to different causes. Therefore, the cause of mediastinal lymph node enlargement needs to be identified and symptomatic treatment should be given after a clear diagnosis.