Lymph Nodes, Spleen And Thymus Flashcards
What is lymphadenopathy ?
Swelling of lymph nodes
Most common causes are infections, tumors and reactive conditions
Can be painful or painless depending on causes
What are lymphadenitis ?
Infection of the lymph nodes
Most of the time painful
Can be acute or chronic
What is Lymphoid hyperplasia ?
Reactive increase in lymphocytes
Caused by lymphadenitis
What are the main histologic patterns oc reactive lymphoid hyperplasia ?
Follicular expansion- bacterial infections
Paracortical expansion- viral infections
Sinus expansion- whipple disease
Patterns are never pure
What are the 2 types of granulomatous lymphadenopathy ?
Necrotizing- due to TB, histoplasmosis, cat scratch disease
Non necrotizing- various causes, but sarcoidosis must be ruled out
What are some abnormalities of the spleen?
Accessory spleen-spleniculi, significant in hematologic disorder where splenectomy is used as a treatment
Asplenia- rare,usually associated with other abnormalities, hypoplasia is more common
What are the inflammatory conditions of the spleen?
Follicular lymphoid hyperplasia- response to systemic infection
Granulomas- relative common
Perisplenitis- inflammation of the peritoneal covering of the spleen
Abscess- very rare, seen with subacute bacterial endocarditis after trauma
What are the characteristics of splenic insufficiency ?
Cause include auto splenectomy from infarction due to sickle cell disease and splenectomy
Increased susceptibility to sepsis caused by encapsulated bacteria and babesiosis
Vaccination is recommended
What are the causes of splenomegaly ?
Serosis most common Hematolymphoid malignancies (ALL,Hairy cell leukemia, amyloidosis) Infections Autoimmune diseases Storage diseases Metastatic tumor
What are the causes of splenic infarcts?
Endocarditis Severe atherosclerosis Massive splenomegaly from any cause Thrombosis of splenic vein Wedge shaped, pale and subcapsular
What are the characteristics of splenic rupture?
Most common causes are trauma and surgical intervention
Spontaneous rupture does not happen in truly normal spleens
Can cause life threatening intraperitoneal hemorrhage and requires prompt splenectomy
What is hypersplenism?
One or more peripheral blood cytopenias due to splenic sequestration and destruction.
Typically resolve after splenectomy
What are the causes of hypersplenism?
Autoimmune diseases
Congestive splenomegaly
Gaucher disease
What are the characteristics of hemangioma?
Most common primary tumor of the spleen
Usually less than 2 cm in size
May involve entire spleen (angiomatosis)
Usually of cavernous type
What are the characteristics of lymphangioma?
Tends to be located in the subcapsular region but may involve the entire organ
Most cases reported in children
