Are multiple lymph nodes in the neck serious?

The lymphatic tissue in the neck is relatively abundant. When inflammation occurs, it often causes swollen lymph nodes. For example, a cold can cause swollen lymph nodes. As for how serious it is, it depends on the specific cause of the disease. Understanding the nature of lymphadenopathy can aid in diagnosis. For example, chronic lymphadenopathy, lymphadenopathy, malignant tumors, etc. are all relatively common.

Clinical manifestations Judging from the clinical manifestations, patients with lymph node metastasis are the oldest, with no gender difference, longer disease course, and larger lymph nodes. Lymphatic tuberculosis is more common in women and has a long course of disease. Patients with lymphadenitis are mostly younger, have a shorter average disease course, and have smaller lymph nodes. Malignant lymphoma occurs more often in men than in women, with obvious enlarged lymph nodes and often accompanied by fever. Reactive lymph node hyperplasia is multi-site, often with fever, and the average course of the disease is short. Histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis (Kikuchi disease) occurs at a young age and is accompanied by high fever and obvious swelling and pain in the lymph nodes.

Understanding the nature of lymphadenopathy is of great significance for the diagnosis of the disease. In case of acute or chronic inflammation, the lymph nodes are soft and movable, have no adhesion to the surrounding tissues and skin, and have a sense of freedom. In the acute phase, there are typical symptoms such as redness, swelling, heat, and pain.

Malignant tumors are one of the causes of cervical lymph node enlargement. The primary lesions are mostly located in the head and neck. The lumps gradually increase in size, become hard, have poor mobility, and are not tender. They are often unilateral but may also affect both sides. Nasopharyngeal cancer, tonsil cancer, and laryngeal cancer often metastasize to the supraclavicular lymph nodes. Cancers of the nose, paranasal sinuses, mouth, and face often invade the submandibular lymph nodes, and esophageal cancer metastasizes to the supraclavicular lymph nodes. Malignant lymphoma is a malignant tumor that occurs in the lymphoreticular tissue. The tumors of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma are painless, progressively enlarged, hard, and have poor mobility. Hodgkin's lymphoma is often bilateral, with symptoms such as fever, hepatosplenomegaly, weight loss and fatigue.