Lymph nodes, also known as tongues, lumps, or lymph nodes, are small bean-shaped glands that are distributed throughout the body and help the immune system function properly because they filter the lympha to remove viruses and bacteria that may pose a risk to the body Once eliminated, these microorganisms are destroyed by lymphocytes, which are defense cells present in the lymph nodes.
These lymph nodes can be found isolated by the body, but are mainly present in groups in places such as the neck, armpits and gums, each group is usually responsible for helping to fight infections that develop nearby and swell when this happens, for example., during a urinary tract infection, the lymph nodes in the groin are easier to detect.
- Lymph nodes become inflamed when there is trauma or infection nearby.
- So where they swell can help with diagnosis.
- Approximately 80% of enlarged lymph nodes in people under age 30 are due to near-site infections.
- But may also include:.
The most common causes of inflammation of the axillary lymph nodes are injuries or infections of the hand, arm or armpit, such as cuts, ingrown hairs or boils; However, this may indicate more serious problems such as lymphoma, especially when there is night fever and sweat, but other situations, such as animal bites, brucellosis, sporotrichosis and breast cancer may also be responsible for this change.
However, cancer is a relatively rare cause and often inflammation of the bone bone area may not occur even because of a tongue, it can also be the sign of a cyst or lipoma, for example, which are simpler problems to treat., ideally, whenever you have a language that does not disappear, consult a gpation to assess the location and perform other tests that confirm the diagnosis.
The lymph nodes of the neck may swell in the lateral region, but also under the jaw or near the ears; when this happens, it is possible to feel or even see a small lump in these areas, which may be a sign of:
In rarer cases, this swelling of the tongue may also be a sign of a certain type of tumor in this area, such as the throat, larynx, or thyroid.
Lymph nodes in your groin, on the other hand, may swell from infections or trauma to your legs, feet, or genital area.One of the most common causes is urinary tract infection, but it can also occur after intimate surgery, and in some cases of sexually transmitted diseases, leg or foot infections and certain types of cancer of the genital area, such as cancer of the vulva, vagina or penis.
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The lumps at the top of the collarbone may indicate infections, lymphoma, a tumor in the lungs, breasts, neck, or abdomen.The hardened ganglion in the left supraclavicular region may indicate gastrointestinal neoplasm and is known as Virchow nodule.
Although it is more common for lymph nodes to swell in a single area, lumps can appear all over the body and this is usually linked to conditions such as:
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Lumps near the neck can usually indicate the presence of scalp infections, rubella or even insect bites.However, although it is much rarer, this type of language can also result from the presence of cancer.
Hypertrophied lymph nodes near the ear can indicate situations such as rubella, eyelid infection or conjunctivitis, for example.
Swollen lymph nodes are almost always a sign of infection near the area; However, in some cases, this swelling may be a sign of cancer, and the only way to make sure this is to consult a family doctor for tests, such as an exam..biopsy or CT scan, for example.
Evaluation of the enlarged lymph node can identify what can be and, for this reason, your doctor will feel the area and check if the lymph node is moving, how large it is, and if it hurts.Having multiple lymph nodes enlarged by the body increases the risk of leukemia, sarcoidosis, disseminated lupus erythematosus, drug reactions, and certain infections.The lymph nodes of leukemias and lymphomas have a firm consistency and do not cause pain.
The risk of tongue cancer is higher when it lasts longer than 6 weeks or when signs such as:
In addition, age is also important because in people over 50 years of age it is more likely to be a tumor than in younger people, for example, when in doubt, the doctor may order a fine needle aspiration biopsy to look for cancer cells.
Some neoplastic diseases that can cause enlarged lymph nodes include lymphoma, leukemia and metastasis of the breast, lung, kidneys, prostate, melanoma, head and neck, gastrointestinal tract, and germ cell tumors.
Most cases of tongue swelling do not require treatment and therefore go away within a week.However, it is recommended to see your family doctor if:
In these cases, your doctor may order several tests, including blood tests, to try to identify the cause, depending on the affected nodes, starting the most appropriate treatment.