Lymphadenopathy Flashcards
What are lymph nodes?
Bean shaped structures located along the lymphatic system which act as filters
What is cervical lymphadenopathy?
Enlarged lymph nodes in the neck
Inflamed and non-inflamed
Prearicular, parotid, jugulodigastric, submental, submandibular, posterior cervical, superficial, cervical, deep cervical, occipital and posterior auricular
What areas drain into the lymph nodes?
Occipital- posterior scalp
Potauriular- temporal and parietal scalp
Prearicular- anterior an temporal scalp, midface, nose, anterior ear canal and pinna, lateral conjunctivae
Parotid- forehead and temporal scalp, midface, nose, external ear canal, middle ear, gums, parotid gland
Submandibular- cheek, nose, lips, anterior tongue, submandibular gland, buccal mucosa
Submental- central lower lip, floor of the mouth, tongue
Superficial cervical- skin, lower larynx, lower ear canal, parotid
Superficial deep cervical- tonsils, adenoid, posterior scalp and neck, tongue, larynx, hypopharynx, thyroid, palate, nose, esophagus, paranasal sinuses, nasopharynx, other cervicofacial nodes
Inferior deep cervial- dorsal scalp and neck, nasopharynx, superficial pectoral region of the arm, superior deep cervical
What are the causes of cervical lymphadenopathy?
Inflection -acutely unilateral -acutely bilateral -chronic unilateral -chronic bilateral Malignancy -primary -metastatic spread Connective tissue diseases Drugs Miscellaneous causes
What special investigations should be done in patients with cervical lymphadenopathy?
Full blood count and differential Targeted laboratory investigations Culture Chest X-ray USS MRI Biopsy FNA Core biopsy
