Physical diagnosis secrets

Question 1

What does the Submental lymph node drain, and what are its associated causes?

Answer 1

• Drainage: Lower lip, anterior floor of mouth, tip of tongue, cheek skin, teeth, nose
• Causes: Mononucleosis-like syndromes, EBV, CMV, toxoplasmosis

Question 2

What does the Submandibular lymph node drain, and what are its associated causes?

Answer 2

• Drainage: Tongue, submaxillary gland, lips, mouth, conjunctivae
• Causes: Infections of head, neck, sinuses, ears, eyes, scalp, pharynx

Question 3

What does the Anterior cervical (jugular) node drain and what are its related conditions?

Answer 3

• Drainage: Tongue, tonsil, pinna, parotid, larynx, thyroid, upper esophagus
• Causes: Pharyngitis, rubella, URTI, cancers of tongue/larynx/thyroid/esophagus

Question 4

What does the Posterior cervical node drain and what conditions are associated?

Answer 4

• Drainage: Scalp, neck, middle ear, arms, pectorals, thorax
• Causes: Mono, toxoplasmosis, TB, rubella, otitis media, dandruff, Kikuchi disease, lymphoma

Question 5

What does the Preauricular node drain and what conditions are linked?

Answer 5

• Drainage: Eyelids, conjunctivae, temporal region, pinna
• Causes: External auditory canal disease, Parinaud’s syndrome, lymphoma

Question 6

What does the Postauricular node drain and what are its common causes?

Answer 6

• Drainage: External auditory meatus, pinna, scalp
• Causes: Local infection, rubella

Question 7

What does the Occipital node drain and what is it usually associated with?

Answer 7

• Drainage: Scalp and head
• Causes: Local infection

Question 8

What areas does the Right supraclavicular node drain, and what diseases does it indicate?

Answer 8

• Drainage: Breast, lungs, esophagus, mediastinum
• Causes: Lung, breast, or mediastinal cancers

Question 9

What does the Left supraclavicular node drain and what does it signify?

Answer 9

• Drainage: Thoracic duct, breast, lungs, abdomen, pelvis
• Causes: Lymphoma, retroperitoneal/GI/pelvic cancers, fungal/bacterial infection

Question 10

What is drained by the Axillary nodes and what are their common pathologies?

Answer 10

• Drainage: Arm, thoracic wall, breast
• Causes: Arm infections, cat-scratch disease, tularemia, lymphoma, breast cancer, implants, brucellosis, melanoma

Question 11

What does the Epitrochlear node drain, and what are associated causes?

Answer 11

• Drainage: Ulnar forearm and hand
• Causes: Infections, lymphoma, sarcoid, CTD, tularemia, syphilis, leprosy, leishmaniasis, rubella

Question 12

What does the Inguinal node drain and what are common differentials?

Answer 12

• Drainage: External genitalia, perineum, gluteal region, lower abdomen/anal canal/limbs
• Causes: Leg/foot infections, STDs, syphilis, chancroid, granuloma inguinale, lymphoma, pelvic malignancy, plague