Cervical lymphadenopathy Flashcards

1
Q

What is the definition of cervical lymphadenopathy?

A

Disease of the cervical lymph nodes

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2
Q

How common is cervical lymphadenopathy?

A

Annual incidence of 0.6-0.7% has been estimated for the general population

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3
Q

What is the pathology of cervical lymphadenopathy?

A
  • Lymph nodes drain tissue fluid and are involved in immune defence
  • Lymphatic vessels in the head and neck = superficial and deep
  • Cervical lymph nodes in the neck = superficial and deep
  • Superficial = anterior superficial nodes collect lymph from superficial surfaces of the anterior neck, posterior lateral lymph nodes collect from superficial surface of neck
  • Deep = drains head and neck via superficial lymph nodes
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4
Q

What are the risk factors/aetiology of cervical lymphadenopathy?

A
  • Recovering from URTI
  • Reactive lumpjadentitis
  • Rubella
  • Glandular fever
  • Enteric fever
  • Hodgkin’s lymphoma
  • Thyroid cancer
  • HIV
  • Hepatitis
  • Traveller = TB
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5
Q

What are the signs/symptoms of lymphadenopathy?

A
  • Lump – firm, soft, irregular, smooth, fluid filled, fixation, tenderness, size (>2cm is a concern)
  • Unintentional weight loss - cancer
  • Night sweats - cancer
  • Appetite loss - cancer
  • Hepatosplenomegaly
  • Fever
  • Generalised itch
  • Alcohol induced lymph node pain
  • Stridor – emergency
  • Dysphagia to solids/liquids with signs of aspiration – emergency
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6
Q

What diseases present similarly to cervical lymphadenopathy?

A
  • Subcutaneous lesions e.g. lipoma, abscess

* Other neck lumps e.g. thyroid lumps, cysts, salivary glands

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7
Q

What investigations are carried out on someone with cervical lymphadenopathy?

A
  • FBC
  • Blood cultures
  • WCC
  • CRP
  • LFTs
  • Temperature
  • HIV test
  • Monospot test
  • Biopsy/aspiration
  • X-ray
  • US
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8
Q

What are the surgical treatments for cervical lymphadenopathy?

A
  • Excision
  • Drainage
  • Radiotherapy
  • Chemotherapy
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9
Q

What are the pharmacological treatments for cervical lymphadenopathy?

A
  • Antibiotics

* Antivirals

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10
Q

What are the non pharmacological treatments for cervical lymphadenopathy?

A

• No treatment – will go away by itself

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