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Lymphadenopathy
 
 
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Lymphadenopathy is a term meaning "disease
Disease

A disease or medical condition is an abnormal condition of an organism that impairs bodily functions, associated with specific symptoms and Medical signs....
 of the lymph nodes." It is, however, almost synonymously used with "swollen/enlarged lymph nodes".

When the infection is of the lymph nodes themselves, it is called lymphadenitis, but when the infection is of the lymph channels, it is called lymphangitis
Lymphangitis

Lymphangitis is an inflammation of the lymphatic channels that occurs as a result of infection at a site distal to the channel. The most common cause of Lymphangitis in humans is Streptococcus Pyogenes ....
.

rged lymph nodes are a common symptom in a number of infectious and malignant diseases.






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Encyclopedia


Lymphadenopathy is a term meaning "disease
Disease

A disease or medical condition is an abnormal condition of an organism that impairs bodily functions, associated with specific symptoms and Medical signs....
 of the lymph nodes." It is, however, almost synonymously used with "swollen/enlarged lymph nodes".

When the infection is of the lymph nodes themselves, it is called lymphadenitis, but when the infection is of the lymph channels, it is called lymphangitis
Lymphangitis

Lymphangitis is an inflammation of the lymphatic channels that occurs as a result of infection at a site distal to the channel. The most common cause of Lymphangitis in humans is Streptococcus Pyogenes ....
.

Associated conditions

Enlarged lymph nodes are a common symptom in a number of infectious and malignant diseases. It is a recognized symptom of many diseases, which include:
  • reactive: acute infection
    Infection

    An infection is the detrimental colonization of a host organism by a foreign species. In an infection, the infecting organism seeks to utilize the host resources to multiply ....
     (e.g. bacterial, or viral
    Virus

    A virus is a Optical microscope#Limitations of light microscopes infectious agent that is unable to grow or reproduce outside a host cell . Viruses infect all cellular life....
    ), or chronic infections (tuberculous lymphadenitis
    Tuberculous lymphadenitis

    Tuberculous lymphadenitis is a chronic specific granulomatous inflammation with caseation necrosis of the lymph node.The characteristic histopathology element is the tuberculous granuloma : giant multinucleated cells , surrounded by epithelioid cells aggregates, T cell lymphocytes and few fibroblasts....
    , cat-scratch disease).
    • The most distinctive symptom of bubonic plague
      Bubonic plague

      Plague is a deadly infectious disease caused by the Enterobacteriaceae Yersinia pestis . Plague is a zoonotic, primarily carried by rodents and spread to humans via fleas....
       is extreme swelling of one or more lymph nodes that bulge out of the skin as 'buboes'. The buboes often become necrotic and may even rupture.
    • Infectious mononucleosis
      Mononucleosis

      Mononucleosis is a condition where there is an unusual proliferation of monocytes. Its meaning is similar to the condition of monocytosis.Sometimes, the use of the term implies Epstein-Barr virus , but it is also possible for cytomegalovirus to cause mononucleosis....
       is an acute viral infection, the hallmark of which is marked enlargement of the cervical lymph nodes
      Cervical lymph nodes

      Cervical lymph nodes are lymph nodes found in the neck....
      .
    • It is also a symptom of cutaneous anthrax
      Anthrax

      Anthrax is an Acute disease in humans and animals caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis, which is highly lethal in some forms. There are effective vaccines against anthrax, and some forms of the disease respond well to antibiotic treatment....
      , measles
      Measles

      Measles is a infection of the respiratory system caused by a virus, specifically a paramyxovirus of the genus Morbillivirus. Morbilliviruses, like other paramyxoviruses, are enveloped, single-stranded, negative-sense RNA viruses....
       and Human African trypanosomiasis
      Sleeping sickness

      Sleeping sickness or human African trypanosomiasis is a parasitic disease of people and animals, caused by protozoa of species Trypanosoma brucei and transmitted by the tsetse fly....
      , the latter two giving lymphadenopathy in lymph nodes in the neck.
    • Toxoplasmosis
      Toxoplasmosis

      Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic disease caused by the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii. The parasite infects most genera of warm-blooded animals, including humans, but the primary host is the Felidae....
      , a parasitic disease
      Parasitic disease

      A parasitic disease is an infectious disease caused or transmitted by a Parasitism. Many parasites do not cause disease per se. Parasitic diseases can affect practically all living organisms, from plants to mammals....
      , gives a generalized lymphadenopathy.


  • Tumoral:
    • Primary: Hodgkin lymphoma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma
      Non-Hodgkin lymphoma

      The non-Hodgkin lymphomas are a diverse group of hematological malignancy which encompass any lymphoma other than Hodgkin lymphoma.Lymphoma is a type of cancer derived from lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell....
      , hairy cell leukemia
      Hairy cell leukemia

      Hairy cell leukemia is a mature B cell neoplasm. It is usually classified as a sub-type of chronic lymphoid leukemia for convenience. It is uncommon, representing about 2% of all leukemias, or less than a total of 2000 new cases diagnosed each year in North America and Western Europe combined....
      , give lymphadenopathy in all or a few lymph nodes.
    • Secondary: metastasis
      Metastasis

      Metastasis , or Metastatic disease, sometimes abbreviated mets, is the spread of a disease from one Organ or part to another non-adjacent organ or part....
      , Virchow's Node
      Virchow's node

      In medicine , Virchow's node is an enlarged, hard, left clavicle lymph node which can contain metastasis of visceral malignancy....
      , Neuroblastoma
      Neuroblastoma

      Neuroblastoma is the most common extracranial solid cancer in childhood and the most common cancer in infancy, with an annual incidence of about 650 new cases per year in the US....
      .


  • Autoimmune etiology: sarcoidosis
    Sarcoidosis

    Sarcoidosis, also called sarcoid or Besnier-Boeck disease, is a multisystem disorder characterized by non-caseating granulomas . It most commonly arises in young adults....
    , systemic lupus erythematosus
    Systemic lupus erythematosus

    Systemic lupus erythematosus is a chronic Autoimmunity connective tissue disease that can affect any part of the body. As occurs in other autoimmune diseases, the immune system attacks the body?s cells and tissue, resulting in inflammation and tissue damage....
    , rheumatoid arthritis
    Rheumatoid arthritis

    Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, systemic disease inflammation that may affect many tissues and organs, but principally attacks the joints producing a inflammatory synovitis that often progresses to destruction of the articular cartilage and ankylosis of the joints....
     all giving a generalized lymphadenopathy.


  • Immunocompromised etiology: AIDS
    AIDS

    Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the HIV ....
    . Generalized lymphadenopathy is an early sign of infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the virus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). "Lymphadenopathy syndrome" has been used to describe the first symptomatic stage of HIV
    HIV

    Human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that can lead to AIDS , a condition in humans in which the immune system begins to fail, leading to life-threatening opportunistic infections....
     progression, preceding AIDS-related complex
    AIDS-related complex

    AIDS-related complex, or ARC, was introduced by the discovery of the AIDS in 1981. ARC is a condition in which antibody tests are positive for HIV....
     and full-blown AIDS
    AIDS

    Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the HIV ....
    .


  • Bites from certain venomous snake species, most notably the black mamba
    Black mamba

    The Black Mamba , is an elapidae snake and is one of Africa's most dangerous and feared snakes. It has a wide range of known locations throughout Africa....
    , kraits, Australian brown snakes
    Pseudonaja

    Pseudonaja is a genus of venom elapid snakes native to Australia. Members are known commonly as brown snakes and are considered to be one of the most dangerous snakes in the country; even young snakes are capable of delivering a fatal Envenomation to a human....
    , coral snake
    Coral snake

    The coral snakes are a large group of elapid snakes that can be divided into two distinct groups: New World coral snakes and Old World Calliophis snakes....
    s, tiger snakes, taipan
    Taipan

    The taipans are a genus of large, fast, highly venom Australasian snakes....
    s, death adder
    Acanthophis

    Acanthophis is a genus of highly venomous snake Elapidae snakes. Commonly called death adders, they are native to Australia, New Guinea and nearby islands, and are among the most venomous snakes in the world....
    s, and some of the more toxic species of cobra
    Cobra

    A cobra is a snake and usually a venomous member of the family Elapidae . The name is short for cobra de capello , which is Portuguese language for "snake with hood," or "hood-snake." When disturbed, most of these snakes can rear up and spread their neck in a characteristic threat display....
    .


Patterns of Benign (Reactive) Lymphadenopathy

There are three distinct patterns of benign lymphadenopathy:
  • Follicular hyperplasia - Seen in infections, autoimmune disorders, and nonspecific reactions.
  • Paracortical hyperplasia - Seen in viral infections, skin diseases, and nonspecific reactions.
  • Sinus histiocytosis - Seen in lymph nodes draining limbs, inflammatory lesions, and malignancies.


Bilateral Hilar Lymphadenopathy (BHL)


Bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy is a radiographic
Radiography

Radiography is the use of X-rays to view unseen or hard-to-image objects. The main diagnostic purposes of X-rays are to see inside one's body, most commonly the bones which can be viewed at an optimum resolution ....
 term that describes the enlargement of mediastinal lymph
Lymph

Lymph is the fluid that is formed as the interstitial fluid. It enters the lymph vessels by filtration. The lymph then travels to at least one lymph node before emptying ultimately into the right or the left subclavian vein, where it mixes back with blood....
 nodes. It is easily and most commonly identified by a chest x-ray
Chest X-ray

A chest X-ray, commonly Abbreviation CXR, is a projection radiograph , taken by a radiographer, of the thorax which is used to diagnose problems with that area....
.

Causes of BHL


The following are causes of BHL:
  • Sarcoidosis
  • Infection
    • Tuberculosis
    • Mycoplasma
  • Malignancy
    • Lymphoma
    • Carcinoma
    • Mediastinal tumors
  • Organic dust disease
    • Silicosis
    • Berylliosis
  • Extrinsic allergic alveolitis
    • Such as pigeon fancier's lung
  • Less common causes also exist: (needs citation)
    • Churg-Strauss syndrome
      Churg-Strauss syndrome

      Churg-Strauss syndrome is a medium and small vessel autoimmune disease vasculitis, leading to necrosis. It involves mainly the blood vessels of the lungs , gastrointestinal system, and peripheral nerves, but also affects the heart, skin and kidneys....
    • Human immunodeficiency virus
    • Extrinsic allergic alveolitis
    • Pneumoconiosis
      Pneumoconiosis

      Pneumoconiosis is an occupational lung disease caused by the inhalation of dust....


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