Are breast lymph nodes serious?

The main manifestation of breast lymph nodes is the appearance of nodules or lumps with uneven texture and very hard in the breast. Obvious pain can be felt when pressed. Generally, breast lymph nodes are small in diameter.

Main features of lymph nodes

It is a lymphatic organ that the lymphatic vessels continuously pass through during their centripetal journey. It is a gray-red, oblate or elliptical body of varying sizes, about 2 to 25 mm in diameter, soft in texture and gray-red in color. There are several afferent lymphatic vessels entering the convex side, while the concave side is called the lymph node hilum, with 1 to 2 efferent lymphatic vessels, blood vessels and nerves entering and exiting. There are more than 800 lymph nodes in the body.

Lymph nodes are often grouped together and have superficial and deep components. They are mostly distributed along blood vessels, and are mostly located on the outside of the body where movement occurs. In the limbs, lymph nodes are located on the sides of the joints, and in the body cavity, they are mostly along the vascular trunks or near the gates of multiple organs. Lymph nodes in the chest, abdomen, and pelvis are mostly distributed in internal organs and large blood vessels.

The lymph from a certain organ or part of the human body drains to certain lymph nodes, which are called local lymph nodes of that organ or part.

① Benign swelling

Includes swelling caused by various infections, connective tissue diseases and allergic reactions. The clinical course is usually benign and can be fully recovered within a certain period of time as the cause is eliminated.

② Malignant swelling

Lymph node metastasis, including primary malignancies such as lymphoma, lymphocytic leukemia and malignant histiocytosis and other malignancies such as lung cancer, gastric cancer and breast cancer. During the clinical malignant process, lymph nodes continue to enlarge and often progressively worsen if not treated actively.

③ Swelling between benign and malignant

Such as angioprimitive immunocytic lymphadenopathy and angiofollicular lymphadenopathy. It often starts out benign but can become malignant and fatal. Therefore, after confirming that the lymph nodes are swollen, the key is to determine their cause and nature. Local swelling accompanied by obvious pain often indicates infection; progressive painless swelling often indicates malignant tumor disease.

Bone marrow aspiration and especially lymph node biopsy can help confirm the diagnosis. The treatment of swollen lymph nodes depends on the cause. For example, streptomycin and remifentanil can be used for lymph node tuberculosis. If it is malignant lymphoma, combined chemotherapy should be the main treatment. If it is late-stage cancer metastasis, the prognosis is extremely poor.

Lymph node enlargement is very common and can occur in people of any age. It can be seen in a variety of diseases, both benign and malignant. Therefore, it is very important to pay attention to the cause of lymph node enlargement and seek medical treatment and diagnosis in time to avoid misdiagnosis or missed diagnosis. Let’s talk about the common causes of swollen lymph nodes.