Lymph nodes

Enlarged lymph nodes should not be ignored. However, since there are many noncancerous causes of lymph node enlargement, healthcare providers rarely go straight to a lymph node biopsy right away, when an enlarged node is detected. You should feel free to bring to your healthcare providers attention any odd lumps or bumps—and many common bumps turn out not to be lymph nodes at all. • Cheson BD, Fisher RI, Barrington SF et al. J Clin Oncol. 2014;32(27)3059-3068. doi:10.1200/JCO.2013.54.8800 • Barrington SF, Mikhaeel NG, Kostakoglu L, et al. J Clin Oncol. 2014;32(27):3048-358. doi:10.1200/JCO.2013.53.5229 • Mohseni S, Shojaiefard A, Khorgami Z, Alinejad S, Ghorbani A, Ghafouri A.

Lymph nodes are round, bean-shaped glands, and you have them throughout your body. There are clusters of them in places like your neck, under your arm, and in the crease between your thigh and your torso (where your leg begins). You can sometimes feel these clusters as little bumps, especially if they're swollen. They're part of your lymphatic system. Along with your Symptoms of Swollen Lymph Nodes The most common signs are: • Tenderness or pain in your lymph nodes • Swelling that makes your lymph nodes the size of a kidney bean or possibly larger Because swollen lymph nodes are usually linked to some type of illness, you might also have other symptoms, depending on what that illness is: • Runny nose, sore throat, or fever (caused by an upper respiratory infection) • Swelling of clusters of lymph nodes in different places in your body (caused by an infection or an immune system disorder, like rheumatoid arthritis ) • Hard lymph nodes that won’t move or get bigger quickly (signs of certain types of cancer) Causes of Swollen Lymph Nodes Lymph nodes have immune cells called lymphocytes in them. They attack bacteria, viruses, and other things that can make you sick. When you're fighting off harmful germs, your body makes more of those immune cells -- that causes the swelling. Your lymph nodes come across all kinds of germs, so they can be swollen for lots of reasons. Usually, it's something that's relatively easy to treat, like: • A virus, like a cold • A bacterial infection, ...

After a cancer diagnosis, the doctor may want to check the patient’s The lymph nodes are a part of the lymphatic system, also known as the lymphoid system. The lymphatic system is a network of lymph vessels, similar to a network of veins, found throughout the body. A clear fluid called lymph circulates through the vessels. Along the network are lymph nodes—small checkpoints that play important roles in the lymphatic system. Lymph nodes filter out germs, cancer cells and foreign matter. They also house white blood cells called lymphocytes that fight infection. Lymph nodes and the lymphatic system are essential to a person’s general well-being, and because the body has hundreds of lymph nodes, it’s generally safe to remove some of them. Why are lymph nodes removed in cancer patients? A lymphadenectomy may be performed to check for signs of cancer and help determine a cancer’s stage. Many types of cancer tend to spread to nearby lymph nodes early in their progression. These include: • • • • • • • Cancers often use the lymph vessels as a highway to escape the organ they originally developed in and travel to other parts of the body. The stage of the cancer may be determined by how many local lymph nodes have signs of disease. Removal of cancerous lymph nodes may help stop the spread of cancer to other areas of the body. Cancer cells using the lymph system to spread may get stuck in lymph nodes. Cancer cells may cause the lymph nodes to become enlarged. For lymph nodes under the...

Lymphatic drainage massage is a form of gentle massage that encourages the drainage of lymph nodes and movement of lymph fluids around the body. It can help relieve lymphedema. The fluid in the In this article, we discuss the benefits of lymphatic massage, who may find it useful, and how a person can prepare for and perform it at home. Lymphatic massage, sometimes called manual lymphatic drainage, is a Lymphatic massage aims to improve the flow of lymph fluid, which should reduce swelling. Massaging an area without swelling will make space for fluid to flow to those parts from more congested areas. There are two types of lymphatic drainage: manual and simple. Manual lymphatic drainage is done by a qualified therapist, whereas simple lymphatic drainage is a technique a person can use at home. Anyone planning on learning simple lymphatic drainage should learn how to do it from a specialist. It is essential to know which area to massage and how much pressure to use. The lymphatic system plays a key role in the body’s immune defenses. Lymphatic fluid Like blood in the circulatory system, lymphatic fluid is always moving. If it stops, swelling can occur, as lymph fluid builds up, often in the arms or legs. Health experts call this lymphedema. Lymphatic massage usually forms part of a treatment program health experts call decongestive lymphatic therapy (DLT). DLT for lymphedema • lymphatic drainage massage • compression garments • exercise • skin care Together, these can improve...

You have hundreds of the small, round, or bean-shaped glands all over your body. Most are spread out, but some are found in groups in a few major places, like your neck, under your arm, and in your chest, belly, and groin. You might be able to feel some of the clusters in those areas as little bumps, but typically, you don't feel them or even know they are three. Your lymph nodes are part of your lymphatic system. Along with your How Do They Work? Your lymph nodes are connected to one another by lymph vessels (tubes that run through your body like veins). They carry lymph fluid -- a clear, watery liquid that passes through the nodes. As the fluid flows through, cells called lymphocytes help protect you from harmful germs. There are two kinds of lymphocytes -- B-lymphocytes (or B-cells) and T-lymphocytes (or T-cells). • B-cells make • T-cells have a couple of jobs. Some destroy germs, while others keep track of immune cells. They let your body know when to make more of certain kinds and less of others. Memory T cells are T-cells that remain dormant after an infection and become active again when they are faced with the same infection. Lymph fluid also carries protein, waste, cellular debris (what’s left after a cell dies), bacteria, viruses, and excess Swollen Lymph Nodes When there’s a problem in your body, like an illness or an infection, your lymph nodes can swell. (This usually happens only in one area at a time.) It’s a sign that more lymphocytes are in action than usu...

BSIP / Universal Images Group / Getty Images Function Everyone has an extensive lymphatic systemin their body, which consists of lymph nodes and lymph vessels. The lymph vessels carry a clear fluid called lymph that is collected from tissues throughout the body. Lymph contains cell wastes like cancer cells, bacteria, and viruses. This fluid is filtered by infection-fighting cells within the A sign that immune cells within a lymph node are fighting an infection or cancer is Location Lymph nodes are scattered throughout the body and located in groups, like in the armpit, groin, neck, pelvis, and abdomen. In some areas like the neck, the lymph nodes are located superficially and may be palpated—they feel like a pea or small bean. In other areas, like the abdomen or the chest, lymph nodes are located deeper and cannot be felt. Swollen Lymph Nodes and Cancer Enlarged or swollen lymph nodescan indicate infection, cancer, or another disease that affects the immune system. Most typically, swollen lymph nodes are related to a minor infection that the immune system is fighting. For example, Once the infection has cleared, swollen lymph nodes shrink back to their normal size. This video has been medically reviewed by Nodes that are immobile, hard, non-tender, and persistently enlarged are suspicious for cancer and should be evaluated by a healthcare provider. If cancer cells are present in a lymph node, they either spread there from the primary tumor—like a breast tumor that spreads ...

Diagnosis If you're at risk of lymphedema — for instance, if you've recently had cancer surgery involving your lymph nodes — your doctor may diagnose lymphedema based on your signs and symptoms. If the cause of your lymphedema isn't as obvious, your doctor may order imaging tests to get a look at your lymph system. Tests may include: • MRI scan. Using a magnetic field and radio waves, an MRI produces 3D, high-resolution images of the involved tissue. • CT scan. This X-ray technique produces detailed, cross-sectional images of the body's structures. CT scans can reveal blockages in the lymphatic system. • Ultrasound. This test uses sound waves to produce images of internal structures. It can help find obstructions within the lymphatic system and vascular system. • Lymphoscintigraphy. During this test, the person is injected with a radioactive dye and then scanned by a machine. The resulting images show the dye moving through the lymph vessels, highlighting blockages. Treatment There's no cure for lymphedema. Treatment focuses on reducing the swelling and preventing complications. Medications Lymphedema greatly increases the risk of skin infections (cellulitis). Your doctor may prescribe antibiotics for you to keep on hand so that you can start taking them immediately once symptoms appear. Therapy Specialized lymphedema therapists can teach you about techniques and equipment that can help reduce lymphedema swelling. Examples include: • Exercises. Gentle contraction of the mu...

Sentinel node biopsy Sentinel node biopsy identifies the first few lymph nodes into which a tumor drains. The surgeon uses a harmless dye and a weak radioactive solution to locate the sentinel nodes. The nodes are removed and tested for signs of cancer. Sentinel node biopsy is a procedure to see if cancer has spread. It can tell whether the cancer cells have broken away from where they started and spread to the lymph nodes. Sentinel node biopsy is often used in people who have breast cancer, melanoma and other types of cancer. The sentinel nodes are the first few lymph nodes to which cancer spreads. In sentinel node biopsy, a tracer material is used to help the surgeon find the sentinel nodes during surgery. The sentinel nodes are removed and tested in a lab. If the sentinel nodes are free of cancer, then cancer probably hasn't spread. This means that removing additional lymph nodes is not necessary. More surgery might not be needed. If a sentinel lymph node biopsy shows cancer, you might need to have more lymph nodes removed for testing. Lymph node clusters Lymph nodes are bean-sized collections of cells called lymphocytes. Hundreds of these nodes cluster throughout the lymphatic system, for example, near the knee, groin, neck and armpits. The nodes are connected by a network of lymphatic vessels. Sentinel node biopsy is used to see whether the cancer cells have spread to the lymph nodes. The lymph nodes are part of the body's germ-fighting immune system. Lymph nodes are ...

Lymphatic drainage has been popular in the medical community — particularly for people who struggle with swelling — for quite some time now. But recently, the massage technique has become a buzzy topic in the wellness community for its alleged whole-body health benefits. I was eager to see what all of the hype was about, so I went to Meet the experts: • Nasreen Starner is a certified lymphedema therapist at the • Danielle Kadian-Dodov, MD, is a board-certified vascular physician and assistant professor of medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City. • Robin Ehrlich is a massage therapist and director of • Maurice Beer, MD, is a board-certified internist and medical director at • Irani Makimoto is the founder of What is lymphatic drainage and how does a lymphatic massage work? The By targeting the connective tissues through manual movements, lymphatic drainage massage supports the natural flow of the lymphatic system. "Lymphatic massage can help to move the lymph fluid through areas of poor function to reduce swelling and move toxins out of the body,” says Danielle Kadian-Dodov, MD, a board-certified vascular physician and assistant professor of medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City. Since technique is key, it's important to seek out a certified professional. Certified lymphedema therapists (CLT) are licensed health care providers, including registered nurses, occupational or physical therapists, and medical do...