Medical Information - ENT - Enlarged Neck Lymph Nodes

ENT's series: Enlarged Neck Lymph Nodes

There are about 150 to 200 lymph nodes on each side of the neck. Any of them can swell due to infection, tumor or inflammation. Enlarged neck nodes must be differentiated from other head and neck lumps such as branchial cysts, parotid and thyroid lumps, cystic hygromas etc.

When a lymph node is enlarged, the first approach is to determine the cause. The simplest investigation is to perform fine needle aspiration cytology (FNA). This quick test will reveal the nature of the neck node in about 95% to 98% of the time. Results can be categorized broadly into reactive (infectious), granulomatous inflammation (eg. tuberculosis, sarcoidosis) and malignancy (undifferentiated, squamous cell carcinoma, lymphomas). A full ENT examination is mandatory in the assessment of an enlarged neck node(s). Sometimes, an excision of the neck node is required when the FNA is not conclusive. Imaging such as CT and MRI scan may be useful in assessing the extent of disease and involvement of other neck nodes that may not be palpable. Treatment is dependent on the cause of the enlargement.

Related links –
http://health.allrefer.com/health/neck-lump-neck-lump.html

Related Articles