Lymph nodes may become enlarged in malignant disease.
Primary herpes simplex infection (primary herpetic gingivostomatitis).Classification Cervical lymphadenopathy in an individual with infectious mononucleosis Lymph nodes in the neckĬervical lymphadenopathy can be thought of as local where only the cervical lymph nodes are affected, or general where all the lymph nodes of the body are affected. In individuals over the age of 50, metastatic enlargement from cancers (most commonly squamous cell carcinomas) of the aerodigestive tract should be considered. In children, most palpable cervical lymphadenopathy is reactive or infective. If nodes heal by resolution or scarring after being inflamed, they may remain palpable thereafter.
In children up to the age of 12 cervical nodes up to 1 cm in size may be palpable and this may not signify any disease. In adults, healthy lymph nodes can be palpable (able to be felt), in the axilla, neck and groin. The causes are varied, and may be inflammatory, degenerative, or neoplastic. Similarly, the term lymphadenitis refers to inflammation of a lymph node, but often it is used as a synonym of lymphadenopathy.Ĭervical lymphadenopathy is a sign or a symptom, not a diagnosis.
The term lymphadenopathy strictly speaking refers to disease of the lymph nodes, though it is often used to describe the enlargement of the lymph nodes. Disease of the lymph nodes Swollen lymph node in the neck due to tick attached behind earĬervical lymphadenopathy refers to lymphadenopathy of the cervical lymph nodes (the glands in the neck).