lymphadenopathy

Lymphadenopathy is a term meaning "disease of the lymph nodes."

When the infection is of the lymph nodes themselves, it is called lymphadenitis, but when the infection is of the lymph channels, it is called lymphangitis.

Enlarged lymph nodes are commonly referred to as glands, as in "swollen glands". However, they do not produce secretions and therefore, by definition, are not glands. The root "Adeno" literally means glands. Therefore the term lymphadenopathy should be abandoned, in favor of "lymph node enlargement"

Associated conditions

Enlarged lymph nodes are a common symptom in a number of infectious and cancerous diseases. It is a recognized symptom of many diseases, which include:

• reactive: acute infection (e.g. bacterial, or viral), or chronic infections (tuberculous lymphadenitis, cat-scratch disease).
  • Infectious mononucleosis is an acute viral infection, the hallmark of which is marked enlargement of the cervical lymph nodes.
  • it is also a symptom of cutaneous anthrax and Human African trypanosomiasis.

• tumoral:
  • Primary: Hodgkin lymphoma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, hairy cell leukemia
  • Secondary: metastasis, Virchow's Node, Neuroblastoma

• autoimmune etiology: sarcoidosis.

• immunocompromised etiology: AIDS. Generalized lymphadenopathy is an early sign of infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the virus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). "Lymphadenopathy syndrome" has been used to describe the first symptomatic stage of HIV progression, preceding AIDS-related complex and full-blown AIDS.^[1]

References

1. ^ Chris Jennings (1993). Understanding and Preventing AIDS: A Book for Everyone.

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