Lymph node enlargement consists of enlarged lymph nodes, which usually happens when the body is trying to fight an infection, or even some type of cancer. However, it is much rarer that lymph node enlargement is a sign of cancer, and, when it happens, it is more frequent in people over 40 years of age and with a family history of cancer.
Lymph nodes are small organs of the lymphatic system that are directly related to the body's defense system. Thus, when a ganglion, popularly called an tongue, is swollen or painful, it indicates that the immune system is fighting an infection in the regions close to that area.
Possible causes
Lymph node enlargement can be caused by inflammation, medication use, due to autoimmune disease or be caused by the presence of some virus, fungi or bacteria, and as the causes are very varied, we mention here the most common causes of enlarged ganglia lymphatics in certain parts of the body:
- Cervical lymph node enlargement, in the neck, behind the ear and close to the jaw: pharyngitis, skin infection, conjunctivitis, mononucleosis, ear, mouth or teeth infection; Lymph node enlargement: toxoplasmosis, sarcoidosis, tuberculosis, gastrointestinal, breast, testis, ovary, lung, mediastinum, lung or esophageal cancer; Inguinal lymph node enlargement: due to sexually transmitted diseases, such as syphilis, soft cancer, genital herpes, donovanosis, cancer in the genital region; Axillary lymph node enlargement: silicone prosthesis infections in the breasts, cat scratch disease, breast cancer, melanoma, lymphoma; Generalized lymph node enlargement: mononucleosis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, dengue, brucellosis, Chagas disease, rubella, measles, HIV, drugs such as phenytoin, penicillin, captopril.
Thus, the best way to know what is causing this increase in lymph nodes is to go to the general practitioner so that the doctor can assess the presence of other symptoms, in addition to observing other signs at the site, such as pain, size and consistency, for example.
After this evaluation, the doctor can recommend some treatment if you suspect a mild condition, such as infection, or order tests, if you suspect a more serious problem.
When can it be cancer
Although the increase in lymph nodes may cause concern, the most normal is that it is not a serious sign, especially if the size is less than 1 cm.
Some signs and symptoms that may indicate that lymph node enlargement may be more severe include:
- Be over 2 cm; Hard consistency; No pain; Association with fever, weight loss and excessive sweating.
There are even greater chances that lymph node enlargement can be cancer when the person has swelling in the nodes located near the clavicle, affecting the left side of the body, and this person is over 40 years old, especially if there are cases in the breast cancer family, intestine, thyroid or melanoma.
The following table indicates the differences between the characteristics of cancer and lymph node enlargement due to other causes:
| Cancer | Other diseases |
| Swelling appears slowly | Swelling arises overnight |
| Does not cause pain | It is quite painful to the touch |
| Usually a single ganglion is affected | Usually several ganglia are affected |
| Uneven surface | Smooth surface |
| Must be more than 2 cm | Must be less than 2 cm |
In case of suspicion, the doctor requests a biopsy puncture that will be able to identify the type of lesion, and other tests that he deems necessary, depending on the symptoms that the patient presents. It is usually indicated to perform a biopsy when the ganglion is more than 2 cm, located in the chest, which persists for more than 4 to 6 weeks and is slow to grow.
What it means when it appears in the child
The enlargement of the lymph nodes in the child's neck, armpit or groin should always be investigated by the pediatrician. In most cases, the enlarged nodes are in response to some infection.
Some possible causes of this increase can be:
- Infectious diseases: upper airway infection, Leishmaniasis, mononucleosis, rubella, syphilis, toxoplasmosis, tuberculosis, cat scratch disease, Hansen's disease, herpes simplex, hepatitis, HIV; Autoimmune diseases: childhood idiopathic arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus; Cancer: leukemia, lymphoma, metastases, skin cancer; Other causes: Reaction of the vaccine, hyperthyroidism, sarcoidosis, Kawasaki disease.
Thus, if the child has enlarged lymph nodes for more than 3 days, it is recommended to go to the pediatrician, where blood, X-ray, ultrasound, tomography or magnetic resonance exams may be ordered, in addition to others that the doctor considers necessary, such as the biopsy.
