Paediatric: Enlarged Lymph Nodes

What are Enlarged lymph nodes (Cervical lymphadenopathy) ?

Lymph nodes in the neck are part of your immune system and can be enlarged when your immune system is fighting a threat in the body (e.g. by infection, inflammation or cancer). Majority of the time, lymph nodes in the neck are enlarged due to an infection. They usually resolve or become smaller after the infection settles.

Assessment of a child with enlarged lymph nodes in the neck includes a thorough clinical history and physical examination. If the lymph node does not resolve or has worrisome signs (e.g. hard consistency, does not move easily, is in a location just above the collar bone in the neck or is bigger than usual inflammatory or infective lymph node) or is present in other parts of the body, your doctor may perform a fine needle aspiration and cytology (FNAC). FNAC involves sticking a needle into the lump (like a b to collect some cells from the lymph node for testing. If the result of the test is inconclusive, a biopsy of the lymph node (either removal of some tissue or the whole lymph node) may be required.In some instances, further investigations such as blood tests and imaging (Chest X-ray & Ultrasound or CT scan of the neck) may be required.