Enlarged lymph nodes: infection or tumor?
Written by:Inflammatory lymph nodes in children often is not a problem in itself but it is an alarm bell: the Prof. Cataldo, an expert in Pediatric Hematology and Oncology in Catania , explains why
What are the lymph nodes?
Lymph nodes are small organs widely spread in the body. They are present in all parts of the body and are part of the lymphatic system. This system is predisposed to the defense of our body from infections and tumors.It should be borne in mind that all lymph nodes can be increased, that is, they increase in volume every time they actively play their function, both for infection and for a neoplasm.
Tonsils swollen
One of the main entry points for germs is the mouth: the consequence, quite frequent, can be the enlargement of the tonsils (also the organs of the lymphatic system). If the bacterium (or the virus) prevails, it exceeds the tonsillary barrier and the next obstacle is the neck lymph nodes. For this reason, especially in children, an enlargement of the neck lymph nodes may occur. In another part of the body, however, if there is an infection, for example due to a foot injury, the groin lymph nodes. Why does all this happen? Because inflammation, in these cases, affects the nearest lymph nodes, adjacent ones.
Enlarged lymph nodes: inflammation only?
Infectious character is the first reason why a lymph node bloats. However, lymph nodes may also swell for tumor reasons and with two different mechanisms:
- Tumor of an organ; In the case of kidney cancer, for example, lymph nodes close to the kidney swell. However, since they are internal to the abdomen, it is difficult to have a look at a visit. Instead, if the baby has a tumor in the chest, it can happen that the lymph nodes, especially those overlapping the neck, are next to the collarbone
- Lymph node ( lymphoma ); lymphomas are nothing but lymphatic system tumors. In the case of the neck lymph nodes, sometimes enlargement is precisely due to a lymphoma and not an infectious form.
The specialist then faces an enlarged lymph node, should ask this question: infection or tumor? The only reliable answer is histological examination: a potentially suspect lymph node is taken and the anatomy-pathologist will perform the necessary microscopic investigations. But to take a lymph node we need a small surgical procedure, called biopsy, and it is not possible to do an intervention whenever we find an enlarged lymph node. It will then be necessary to carefully evaluate each case, establish any blood or instrumental examinations, and reserve the biopsy only to cases for which cancer remains suspicious.
Editor: Valerio Bellio