Lymphadenopathy

Question 1

Lymphangitis:

What is it?

What bacteria usually causes it?

Answer 1

Inflammation of the lymphatic vessels

Group A Strep

Question 2

What is lymphoedema? - Wendy Williams

Answer 2

Tissue swelling due to lymph vessel obstruction

Question 3

Causes of regional lymphadenopathy?

Answer 3

Local infection

Question 4

General lymphadenopathy:

What indicates that it is general?

What are some viral causes? - 4

What are some infiltrative causes?

What q’s would you ask in a history?

Answer 4

More than 2 lymph nodes in non-contiguous places

EBV (infectious mononucleosis)
CMV
TB
HIV

Cancer (lymphoma, mets)
Sarcoidosis

Duration
Is it painful?
Is it changing?
B symptoms
Risk factors for HIV/TB?
Contact with cats? – cats with scratch 
Travel history

Question 5

Referring to specialist for possible lymphoma:

Above what size and for how long does the lymph node have to be there for a referral?

What else may worry?

Where would you find lymph nodes that would be worrying?

Answer 5

Any patient with a lymph node >1cm for 6 weeks or more

Any patient with generalised lymphadenopathy, i.e. in two or more non-contiguous areas.

Supraclavicular nodes often more worrying than inguinal adenopathy