What are lymph nodes? It turns out that lymph nodes are related to these causes

Lymph nodes are small, oval-shaped structures scattered throughout the body. Lymph nodes contain white blood cells, especially lymphocytes. Different types of lymphocytes grow and mature in lymph nodes. These immune cells help the body fight infection. Lymph nodes are part of the body's lymphatic system.

Lymph nodes are connected to each other by lymphatic channels called lymphatic vessels (like blood vessels), through which lymph fluid, as well as proteins and other substances, move from one part of the body to another.

Lymph nodes in different parts of the body have different names.

Cervical lymph nodes - Lymph nodes in the neck

Axillary lymph nodes - axillary lymph nodes

Mediastinal lymph nodes - lymph nodes within the chest, near the heart

Inguinal lymph nodes - groin lymph nodes

Retroperitoneal mesenteric lymph nodes - lymph nodes in various parts of the abdomen.

Pelvic lymph nodes - pelvic lymph nodes.

When lymph nodes are enlarged, they are called lymphadenopathy. When doctors can feel swollen lymph nodes (in places like the neck, armpits, and groin), they are called palpable lymph nodes.

More information about scaling up your node

In many cases, lymph nodes can increase in size. Infections, cancer, and many immune disorders can affect lymphocytes, causing lymph nodes to swell. Swollen lymph nodes are often a sign of lymphoma, a cancer of the lymphocytes. But not all swollen lymph nodes are signs of lymphoma.

Swollen lymph nodes should never be ignored. However, because there are many noncancerous causes of swollen lymph nodes, doctors rarely go straight to a lymph node biopsy when they discover one. You should always alert your doctor to any strange lumps or masses — and many common lumps are not lymph nodes at all.

If you do have obvious lymph nodes, your doctor is trained to identify the most likely cause first. For example, an upper respiratory tract infection is one of the most common causes of swollen lymph nodes, such as those that may be palpated in the neck. Even if the cause of swollen lymph nodes is not obvious to the doctor, it is not uncommon to wait and see if the swelling goes away on its own before conducting further investigations. However, nodes that continue to enlarge need to be evaluated.

To learn more about what causes swollen lymph nodes, see the article titled Swollen Lymph Nodes and consider the following memory devices:

What can cause swollen lymph nodes?

This is an old mnemonic device that some doctors may remember. Hodgkin's disease is just one possibility, but it's a skeleton for the memory. It doesn't cover everything, but it's useful for thinking about diseases related to swollen lymph nodes.. Generalized lymphadenopathy means more than two lymph nodes from different areas. As you can see, there are many possible causes:

H. Hematology: Hodgkin's disease, leukemia, and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

O. Oncology: Lymph node metastasis, malignant melanoma

D. Dermatopathic lymphadenitis: The lymph nodes are swollen and exudate from a small area of ​​skin that has been damaged or irritated.

G. Left-handedness: a rare genetic disease

K. Kawasaki disease: a rare autoimmune disease involving blood vessels and inflammation

Infections: bacteria, viruses, and parasites

N. Niemann-Pick disease: a genetic disorder involving metabolism.

S. Serum sickness: an immune response to certain drugs or treatments

D. Drug reaction: reaction to certain drugs

Immunological diseases: such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus

S. Sarcoidosis: An inflammatory disease that can affect different parts of the body.

E. Endocrine: Hyperthyroidism

Angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy: This is an old term that is now considered a lymphoma.

S. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)

E. Eosinophilic granulomatosis: a systemic disease involving allergic and inflammatory manifestations