What are the causes of cervical lymph node protrusion?

Cervical lymph node protrusion, or cervical lymph node enlargement, is a common phenomenon in daily life, but few people know about its triggering factors. In fact, cervical lymph node protrusion is caused by many factors, inflammation is one of them. Let's take a closer look!

(1) Inflammation

Acute cases are characterized by redness, pain, and heat, with rapid onset and local tenderness. The swelling will subside after anti-inflammatory treatment.

Chronic cases have a long course of disease, are active, non-tender, and are often located in the submandibular area.

(2) Tuberculosis

It can be primary or secondary to tuberculosis lesions in the abdominal cavity. The course of the disease is long. The enlarged lymph nodes are in the form of strings, of medium quality, movable, and non-tender. They can adhere to each other into clumps. If they are caseous necrotic and rupture, fistulas will be formed.

(3) Metastatic malignant tumors

It is one of the causes of cervical lymphadenopathy. 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.

(4) Malignant lymphoma

It 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.

(5) AIDS

It is caused by invasion of human immunodeficiency virus. The disease has a long course, with gradual enlargement of lymph nodes, often with enlarged inguinal lymph nodes, fever, weight loss, fatigue and leukopenia.

By taking detailed medical history, conducting careful clinical examinations, and combining them with imaging examinations, we strive to find the primary lesion. When the primary lesion cannot be found, the nature and cause can be clarified through puncture or biopsy, and then appropriate anti-inflammatory, anti-tuberculosis, surgical clearance or radiotherapy can be carried out.