What does lymph node shadow mean?

Hello, in this case, the first thing to consider is inflammatory lymphadenopathy. Suggestions: According to your description, lymph nodes can be felt under both jaws and left armpit. The first consideration is inflammatory lymphadenopathy. I wonder if you have a recent history of infection, cough, fever, etc. If there are no other symptoms, you can observe first and then check again after 1 month. If it has grown, you can consider a biopsy.

Where are the lymph nodes located? Lymph nodes are distributed throughout the body, and only those that are relatively superficial can be felt. The human body's superficial lymph nodes are divided into 14 groups, mainly located in the head, neck and armpits. In addition, the inguinal area, popliteal fossa, etc. are also "gathering places" of superficial lymph nodes. The lymph nodes in the neck, submandibular, supraclavicular fossa, axilla, and groin are easiest to feel.

Can lymph node enlargement be divided into benign and malignant? As mentioned above, under normal circumstances, superficial lymph nodes should not be palpable. They will only swell when encountering factors such as inflammation and tumors. The most common cause of lymphadenopathy is inflammatory hyperplasia. Infection, inflammation and other conditions may lead to inflammatory hyperplasia and swelling of local lymph nodes. These enlarged lymph nodes are usually isolated, feel relatively "smooth", and can be pushed back and forth. As the inflammation subsides, most lymph nodes will return to their previous size and cannot be felt. But sometimes, even though the inflammation has subsided, the swollen lymph nodes never get smaller and continue to coexist peacefully with the human body. This is also normal. The throat is more likely to become inflamed than other parts of the body, so inflamed and swollen lymph nodes often appear in the neck. This type of inflammatory hyperplasia and enlarged lymph nodes is harmless and is considered benign lymph node enlargement, so there is no need to worry too much.

How to judge whether it is benign or malignant? As mentioned earlier, benign and malignant lymph node enlargements have a different “feel”: benign lymph node enlargements are generally solitary, smooth, and movable, while malignant lymph node enlargements are multiple, rough, and connected into pieces. However, it is not enough to rely on "feel" alone to determine whether the swollen lymph nodes are benign or malignant. The most accurate diagnosis still depends on pathology. Generally speaking, pathological biopsy of lymph nodes is performed preferably by ultrasound-guided puncture. However, since the amount of tissue removed by the puncture biopsy is relatively small, it may not be able to locate the lesion sometimes. Therefore, surgery may be required to remove the enlarged lymph nodes and then perform a pathological examination.

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