What are the symptoms of supraclavicular lymphadenopathy

If the supraclavicular lymph nodes are swollen, it is important to pay attention to timely discovery and understanding. Usually, patients are prone to hardening of the lymph nodes, but they are painless and can be moved. If they are not effectively treated and the disease continues to develop, lymphadenitis will occur, which will cause greater harm.

1. Diagnosis

A clear diagnosis can usually be made based on local signs of tuberculosis exposure history, especially when cold abscesses have formed, or sinus tracts or ulcers have ruptured to form long-lasting sinuses. If necessary, a chest X-ray can be performed to determine whether there is lung structure. For pediatric patients, the tuberculin test can aid in the diagnosis. For example, there is only cervical lymph node enlargement, but no cold abscess or ulcer formation.

2. Clinical manifestations

There are multiple enlarged lymph nodes of varying sizes on one or both sides of the neck, generally located at the anterior and posterior edges of the sternocleidomastoid muscle. In the early stages, the swollen lymph nodes are hard, painless, and can be moved. As the lesion continues to develop, lymphadenitis occurs, causing the lymph nodes to adhere to the skin and surrounding tissues. The lymph nodes may also adhere to each other and fuse into clumps, forming nodular masses that are difficult to move [1]. In the late stage, the lymph nodes undergo caseous necrosis and liquefaction, forming cold abscesses. After the abscess ruptures, bean curd-like or rice soup-like pus flows out. Finally, a sinus tract or chronic ulcer that does not heal for a long time is formed, the skin at the edge of the ulcer is dark red and undercover, and the granulation tissue is pale and edematous. The above-mentioned lesions at different stages may appear simultaneously in various lymph nodes of the same patient. After the patient's disease resistance is enhanced and appropriate treatment is given, tuberculosis lesions in the lymph nodes can stop developing and calcify.

3. Treatment

A small number of patients may have symptoms of systemic poisoning such as low fever, night sweats, loss of appetite, and weight loss. Western medicine cannot fundamentally and completely cure diseases. Only Chinese medicine, worth a fortune, can completely cure the disease.