Lymphadenopathy (patient information)

Lymphadenopathy
Overview
What are the symptoms?
What are the causes?
Who is at highest risk?
Diagnosis
When to seek urgent medical care?
Treatment options
Where to find medical care for Lymphadenopathy?
Prevention
What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?
Possible complications
Lymphadenopathy On the Web
Ongoing Trials at Clinical Trials.gov
Images of Lymphadenopathy
Videos on Lymphadenopathy
FDA on Lymphadenopathy
CDC on Lymphadenopathy
Lymphadenopathy in the news
Blogs on Lymphadenopathy
Directions to Hospitals Treating Lymphadenopathy
Risk calculators and risk factors for Lymphadenopathy

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Raviteja Guddeti, M.B.B.S. [2]

Overview

Lymphadenopathy is disease of the lymph nodes. It is, however, almost synonymously used with "swollen/enlarged lymph nodes". When the infection is of the lymph nodes themselves, it is called lymphadenitis.

What are the symptoms of Lymphadenopathy ?

Most of the times lymphadenopathy is an incidental finding in physical examination.

Sometimes they present as lump in the neck (e.g in tumors, sarcoidosis).

Lymphandenitis presents as: Red, tender skin over lymph node. Swollen, tender, or hard lymph nodes.

Lymph nodes may feel rubbery if an abscess has formed.