Cervical Lymph Nodes + Other Neck Lumps Flashcards
Role of the lymphatic system
- remove excess fluid from interstitial space
- restores small proteins + fluid that leaked from capillaries to veins
- immune defence + surveillance
What are clinical manifestations of diseases involving the lymphatic system?
Lymphadenopathy
Lymphoedema
What is lymphadenopathy?
Enlarged lymph nodes due to infection/inflammation or malignancy
Where can you palpate enlarged lymph nodes?
Cervical (Neck)
Axilla
Inguinal (Groin)
What is Waldeyer’s ring?
Annular collection of lymphoid tissue surrounding upper aero digestive tract (tonsils)
What lymph nodes can be palpable in well children?
Cervical lymph nodes
What are the different tonsils?
Pharyngeal tonsil/adenoids
Tubal tonsils
Palatine tonsils
Lingual tonsil
Location of pharyngeal tonsil + tubal tonsils
In nasal pharynx
Location of palatine tonsils
At back of throat
Location on lingual tonsil
Posterior surface of the tongue
What can enlargement of pharyngeal tonsil lead to?
- Obstruction of nasal breathing: mouth breathing, snoring
- Blockage of eustachian tube > middle ear problems
What is tonsillitis?
Enlargement of palatine tonsils
Is tonsillitis most commonly caused by viruses or bacteria?
Viral
What bacteria most commonly causes tonsillitis?
Strep pyrogenes
What two tools can be used to estimate the probability that tonsillitis is due to bacterial infection?
Centor criteria
FeverPAIN score
Outline the Centor criteria
What is it used for?
- Used to estimate the probability that tonsillitis is due to bacteria
- score >3 = 40-60% chance > offer antibiotics
. - fever >38C
- tonsillar exudates
- absence of cough
- tender anterior cervical lymph nodes
Outline the FeverPAIN score
What is it used for?
- Used to estimate the probability that tonsillitis is due to bacteria
- score 2-3 = 34-40% chance
- score 4-5 = 62-65% chance
. - fever
- Pus on tonsils
- Attended within 3 days of onset of symptoms
- Inflamed tonsils
- No cough
Treatment of bacterial tonsillitis
phenoxymethylpenicillin for 10 days
clarithromycin is penicillin allergy
Complications of tonsillitis
- peritonsillar abscess
- otitis media
- scarlet fever
- rheumatic fever
- post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis
- post-streptococcal reactive arthritis
Outline superficial/regional cervical lymph nodes
- In superficial cervical fascia, just beneath skin
- Drains regions of face, scalp + tongue into deeper lymph nodes
- Form a ring from chin to occiput
Outline deep/terminal cervical lymph nodes
- Most associated with IJV within carotid sheath
- Drain lymph from superficial lymph nodes + directly from deeper tissues e.g. thyroid gland
What is the bony prominence of chin?
Mental protuberance