1. Cervical lymphadenopathy Flashcards
(10 cards)
How common is it?
Benign and infectious causes are common
Malignancy is rare
Who does it affect?
Children - benign cause
Adults >40 - malignant cause
What causes it?
Malignancy (local, metastatic or haematological)
Reactive (ie to viral URTI, staph aureus in skin infections, toxoplasmosis)
Sarcoidosis, connective tissue disease
What risk factors are there?
Recent travel, pets, insect bites
Malignancy risk factors
Immunocompromised patients
FH of head and neck cancer or endocrine diseases
How does it present?
Lump in the neck
Associated tenderness, dysphagia, dysphonia, hoarseness, cough, pyrexia
What signs may the patient have on examination?
Assess for stridor
Palpate anterior and posterior triangles and midline
Thyroid swellings
Splenomegaly
What other conditions might present similarly?
Thyroid lump
Salivary gland lump
Congenital lump
Skin lump
How would you investigate?
FBC
Monospot test (EBV)
CXR
Neck USS
What treatments are there?
Treat underlying infection
Urgent 2 week referral if does not resolve
What complications are there?
Head and neck cancer
Dysphagia
