Lymphadenopathy Flashcards
Challenge to assessing lymph nodes in pedi primary care?
- Common! Challenge is avoiding invasive investigation while making timely diagnosis where necessary
- Younger kids constantly exposed to new antigens
- Young vs older kids: older children and ados have smaller LNs than younger kids
Lymphadenopathy:
Red Flags on History suspicious of malignancy
- Persistent node >6 weeks
- Firm, hard, immobile
- Node >2cm in size
- Rapidly increasing in size
- Family history of malignancy
- If hasn’t responded to antimicrobial therapy in 4 weeks
Lymphadenopathy:
Red Flags on History suspicious of TB
- Night sweats
- Recent travel to region endemic for TB
- Weight loss
Lymphadenopathy:
Red Flags on History suspicious of HIV/hepatitis
- Exposure to HIV or hepatitis
- Nontender nodes in axillary, cervical, and occipital region
- IV drug use or risky sexual behavor
Lymphadenopathy - red flags on exam
- •Hard, rubbery, matted nodes
- •Nodes > 2 cm
- •swelling of node
Necessary components of history taking in the setting of pediatric lymphadenopathy
•S/S of infection and/or systemic disease, exposures to sick contacts or animals/pests, IZ status, medications, travel, high-risk behavior, immune status
Necessary components of PE in the setting of pediatric lymphadenopathy
Depends on area and other symptoms, but always:
- •Location, size, consistency, fixation, tenderness
- •NL: asymmetric, small & discrete (non-matted), soft, mobile, NT
Generalized vs local LAD
generalized is 2+ noncontiguous regions
Evaluation of lymph nodes - possible labs / imaging based on symptoms
- •Labs:
- •CBC, ESR & CRP, lactate dehydrogenase and uric acid, liver enzymes, serology (EBV, HIV, CMV, parvovirus, bartonella, etc), cultures, PPD/Quant Gold, specific atypical mycobacterial Ag
- •Imaging:
- •Radiography (CXR, neck XR), U/S, CT
Excisional/open biopsy vs FNA
- Excisional biopsy
- BEST - preserves Intact specimen, Confirms malignancy, granulomatous tissues of TB or sarcoid
- •Cons: invasive, should be done in a medical center specializing in care of children – removal of wrong node leading to false neg is not uncommon
- Fine needle aspiration
- •Decompress suppurative LN, obtain tissue specimen for histopathology
- •Cons: Invasive, sedation/general anesthesia, éfalse negative rate, potential for sinus tract formation (wound tunneling).
- Not typically recommended.
Reasons for Early biopsy
EARLY if high suspicion for malignancy
- Systemic sx: fever >1 week, night sweats, wt loss >10% body weight
- Lack of infectious Sx in ENT
- Size >2cm, increasing over 2 weeks, no decrease after 4 weeks or no response to 2 weeks of antimicrobial therapy
- Supraclavicular & lower cervical
- Hard, matted, rubbery
- Abnl CXR or CBC
Cervical LNs + Drainage
Congenital vs acquired cmv
cogenital must be Dxed in first 3 weeks of life
S/S of Congenital CMV
- •Most are asymptomatic
- Common:
- •Sensorineural hearing loss*
- •Lethargy*
- •Hypotonia*
- •Petechiae*
- •Jaundice at birth*
- •Hepatosplenomegaly*
- •Small size for gestational age*
- •Microcephaly*
- Other:
- •Polymicrogyria
- •Chorioretinitis
- •Seizures
- •Hemolytic anemia
- •Pneumonia
Diagnostics and Lab findings in congenital CMV
- Diagnosis: CMV detected on viral culture (urine or saliva)
- other options: rapid culture, PCR
- Associated findings
- •Elevated liver transaminases
- •Thrombocytopenia
- •Elevated direct and indirect serum bilirubin
Treatment for CMV
- Asymptomatic infants do not require antiviral treatment
- IV Ganciclovir or PO valganciclovir for symptomatic infections
Clinical manifestations of acquired CMV
- •Most children are asymptomatic
- Common:
- •Fever*
- •Fatigue*
- •Pharyngitis*
- •Mononucleosis-like syndrome*
- •Adenopathy*
- •Hepatitis*
- Other:
- •Headache
- •Abdominal pain
- •Diarrhea
- •Arthralgias
- •Rash
Diagnosis of acquired cmv + associated lab findings
- Diagnostic labs
- •CMV IgG seroconversion with CMV IgM antibody
- Associated findings
- •Lymphocytosis or lymphopenia
- •Thrombocytopenia
- •Abnormal liver function tests
- •Negative monospot test
Treatment of acquired cmv
- •Antiviral treatment is generally not indicated.
- •Supportive care with hydration and fever control
staph aureus or strep pneumonia on culture in setting of acute pharyngitis
may show up on culture but do not cause acute pharyngitis
Common causes of infectious pharyngitis
- Streptococci
- Group A strep
- Respiratory viruses
- Adenovirus, coxsackie, influenza, parainfluenza
- Infectious mononucleosis
- EBV