Lymphadenopathy is a term meaning disease of the lymph nodes.

It is, however, almost

synonymously used with "swollen/enlarged lymph nodes". It could be due to infection, auto-
immune disease, or malignancy.

Inflammation of a lymph node is called lymphadenitis. In practice, the distinction between

lymphadenopathy and lymphadenitis is rarely made. (Inflammation of lymph channels is called
lymphangitis

Types:

 Localized lymphadenopathy : due to localized spot of infection e.g. an infected spot on

the scalp will cause lymph nodes in the neck on that same side to swell up
 Generalized lymphadenopathy : due to generalized infection all over the body e.g.
influenza
o persistent generalized lymphadenopathy (PGL) : persisting for a long time,
possibly without an apparent cause
 Dermatopathic lymphadenopathy : lymphadenopathy associated with skin disease.

Tangier disease (ABCA1 deficiency) may also cause this

Associated conditions:

Enlarged lymph nodes are a common symptom in a number of infectious and malignant diseases.
It is a recognized symptom of very many diseases, of which some are as follows:

 Reactive: acute infection (e.g. bacterial, or viral), or chronic infections (tuberculous

lymphadenitis, cat-scratch disease).
o The most distinctive symptom of bubonic plague is extreme swelling of one or
more lymph nodes that bulge out of the skin as "buboes." The buboes often
become necrotic and may even rupture.
o Infectious mononucleosis is an acute viral infection, the hallmark of which is
marked enlargement of the cervical lymph nodes.
o It is also a symptom of cutaneous anthrax, measles and Human African
trypanosomiasis, the latter two giving lymphadenopathy in lymph nodes in the
neck.
o Toxoplasmosis, a parasitic disease, gives a generalized lymphadenopathy
(Piringer-Kuchinka lymphadenopathy).[4]
o Plasma cell variant of Castleman's disease - associated with HHV-8 infection and
HIV infection.
o Mesenteric lymphadenitis after viral systemic infection (particularly in the GALT
in the appendix) can commonly present like appendicitis.
  Tumoral:
o Primary: Hodgkin lymphoma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, hairy cell leukemia, give
lymphadenopathy in all or a few lymph nodes.
o Secondary: metastasis, Virchow's Node, Neuroblastoma.

 Autoimmune etiology: systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis all giving a

generalized lymphadenopathy.

 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 a diagnosis of AIDS.

 Bites from certain venomous snakes, most notably the black mamba, kraits, Australian
brown snakes, coral snakes, tiger snakes, taipans, death adders, and some of the more
toxic species of cobra.

 Unknown etiology: Kikuchi disease, progressive transformation of germinal centres,

sarcoidosis, hyaline-vascular variant of Castleman's disease, Rosai-Dorfman disease,
Kawasaki disease

Patterns of Benign (Reactive) Lymphadenopathy

There are three distinct patterns of benign lymphadenopathy:

 Follicular hyperplasia - Seen in infections, autoimmune disorders, and nonspecific

reactions.
 Paracortical hyperplasia - Seen in viral infections, skin diseases, and nonspecific
reactions.
 Sinus histiocytosis - Seen in lymph nodes draining limbs, inflammatory lesions, and
malignancies.