Cervical Lymph Nodes + Neck Lumps Flashcards
What are the roles of the lymphatic system?
Remove excess fluid from interstitial space
Immune defence role
What is lymphadenopathy?
Enlarged lymph nodes
What is the role of lymph nodes?
Act as a physical filter
Acts as a phagocytic filter
Full of lymphocytes which activate and proliferate in response to antigens
What is the flow through lymph nodes like?
Multiple afferents, one efferent
Slows the flow of fluid - gives time of lymphocyte activation
What can cause an enlarged lymph node?
Infection
Malignancy
How does lymphatic drainage of the face/neck occur?
Drains into superficial node which drains into deep node
What are the superficial nodes?
Submental Submandibular Pre-auricular Post-auricular Occipital Posterior cervical Anterior cervical
Where do the deep nodes lie?
Along route of internal jugular vein in the carotid sheath
What is Waldeyer’s ring?
A ring shaped collection of lymphoid tissue that surrouns the pharynx
What makes up Waldeyer’s ring?
Pharyngeal tonsil
Tubal tonsils
Palatine tonsils
Lingual tonsil
What are causes of midline neck lumps?
Dermoid cyst
Thyroglossal duct cyst
Thyroid swelling
What are the causes of lateral neck lumps?
Submandibular gland
Branchial cyst
Lymphadenopathy
What happens with a thyroglossal duct cyst?
Moves when sticking tongue out
What happens with a thyroid swelling?
Moves on swallowing
What are red flags associated with lymphadenopathy?
> 6 weeks Fixed, hard and irregular Growing rapidly Generalised lymphadenopathy Associated with B symptoms Associated with voice change or swallowing difficulty
