Diagnostic Approach to Lymph Node Enlargement MARIA LAURA GHIRARDELLI, VASSILI JEMOS,* PAOLO G
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Haematologica 1999; 84:242-247 decision making and problem solving Diagnostic approach to lymph node enlargement MARIA LAURA GHIRARDELLI, VASSILI JEMOS,* PAOLO G. GOBBI Divisione di Medicina Interna e Oncologia Medica, Dipartimento di Medicina Interna; *Patologia Chirurgica I, Dipartimento di Chirurgia Generale, Università di Pavia, IRCCS Policlinico S. Matteo, Pavia, Italy ABSTRACT Background and Objective. How to reach the correct ther investigation; second, deciding whether it would diagnosis of a lymph node enlargement is still a prob- be advisable to perform a nodal biopsy when tests lem which strongly challenges the knowledge and and other clinical findings have not provided suffi- experience of the clinician. Organized and specifi- cient diagnostic elements to categorize the LAM with cally oriented literature on the right sequential steps certainty. and the logical criteria that should guide this diag- It should, however, be noted that all the findings, nostic approach is still lacking. observations and testing that make up the rational Methods. The authors have tried to exploit available approach to LAM offer no predetermined relation- knowledge and their personal experience by corre- ships, but only merely probable ones, and that lating a large body of information regarding size, together they constitute a set of norms in which dif- physical characteristics, anatomical location of ferent factors play significant roles: e.g. the variabil- enlarged lymph nodes, and the possible epidemio- logical, environmental, occupational and clinical cat- ity of expression of the different possible disorders, egorization of this condition. individual patient variability, and a hard-to-quanti- fy amount of clinical experience and specific obser- Results and Conclusions. It was intended that such vational expertise on the part of the physicians work- material would have constituted the basis of a hypo- thetic decision-making tree, but this was impossible ing on the case. The entire subject matter of this because of the lack of epidemiological investigation study could be used to outline a decision-making and registry data. Nevertheless, we present this tree that would be extremely complex and quite dif- preparatory work here in order to stimulate the inter- ficult to construct. est of concerned readers and because of its possible The definition of what constitutes a normal lymph direct usefulness in hematologic practice. node may in itself frequently be difficult. It is well ©1999, Ferrata Storti Foundation known that the lymph nodes, together with the spleen, are the peripheral organs of the immune sys- Key words: diagnosis, lymph node enlargement, tem within which the anatomical and functional lymphadenopathy, lymphadenomegaly interconnections fundamental to immunity occur between the lymphatic and hematic circulations. There are approximately 600 lymph nodes, strategi- n general the question of what to do when a cally distributed throughout the human body, each patient presents with lymphadenomegaly (LAM) of which consists of a cellular component composed Ihas no immediate solution. Most of the time the of fibroblasts (whose function is mainly structural), family doctor only participates in the early stages of macrophages, dendritic and Langerhans’ cells the diagnostic process, then a specialist is called in (whose function is to recognize and present an anti- – usually a hematologist – whose goal is not only to gen and to activate lymphocytes), T and B lympho- do his best to reach a diagnosis but to do so in the cytes (which are the effector cells of cellular and shortest, most reasonable, least expensive and, humoral immunity, respectively). All these elements above all, least uncomfortable way for the patient. are contained within connective stroma and encased The clinical approach to LAM follows two main 1 in a capsular shell. logical steps: first, making a diagnostic distinction During an immune response the flow of blood and between a true lymphadenopathy, with a patholog- lymph through a lymph node can increase by as ical significance that deserves more detailed diag- much as twenty-five times with a resulting accumu- nostic attention, and a state of exaggerated palpa- lation of activated proliferating cells, and the entire bility of normal lymph nodes, due to causes such as lymph node may swell up to fifteen times its normal a very thin patient or flaccid connective tissue, or a volume. When this occurs it is capsular edema and simple LAM – mainly stromal – that is the result of a the tension this causes, along with the consequent previous adenopathy and does not require any fur- process of perilymphadenitis, that is responsibile for the characteristic pain of inflammatory adenopathy. Correspondence: Paolo G. Gobbi, M.D., Medicina Interna e Oncologia Medica, Università di Pavia, IRCCS Policlinico S. Matteo, p.le Golgi, Moreover, if the etiologic agent is bacterial and 27100 Pavia, Italy. reaches the lymph node in large numbers, this can Diagnosis of lymph node enlargement 243 cause follicular necrosis with suppuration, trans- ous enlargements and current adenomegalies with forming the lymph node into a soft, more or less taut, clinical significance, the different physical character- floating mass that is extremely painful and extremely istics of the lymph node, as determined by physical sensitive to the slightest touch. While in time, after examination, are also fundamental to making such a every episode of functional hyperplasia, the cellular distinction. There are four main types of physical component returns to its original normal propor- characteristics: 1) enlarged nodes that are the result tions, the same is not always true for the stroma. It of a previous inflammatory process are firm, elastic, is difficult for stromal hyperplasia to return to its orig- very mobile, hard to hold in one place and absolute- inal dimensions, especially if there has been conspic- ly painless and insensitive to handling; 2) in acute uous necrosis or suppuration, and this creates an infections lymph nodes are often tender, softly elas- anatomical basis for greater palpability of the node tic and sometimes asymmetrically enlarged if they are even under conditions of functional rest. The more isolated; other times, however, they are confluent, times these functional stimuli are repeated, the more painful and sensitive to touch, and covered by flushed pronounced this condition becomes. skin. If the infection is localized, a painful red streak A lymph node may be enlarged a) in an immune (lymphangitis) may connect the site of the infection response to infective agents (bacterial, viral); b) as a to the involved lymph node; 3) the lymph nodes of result of inflammatory cells in infections involving the lymphomas are firmer, rigidly elastic with superficial lymph node (lymphadenitis); c) by the infiltration of and deep mobility that is less than normal but not neoplastic cells carried to the node by lymphatic or completely absent. Often these lymph nodes aggre- blood circulation (metastasis); d) due to localized gate to form small packets without modifying their neoplastic proliferation of lymphocytes or macro- integument; they are only slightly or not at all painful, phages (lymphomas), and e) as a result of an infiltra- only slightly or not at all sensitive to handling (ten- tion of macrophages filled with metabolite deposits derness and sensitivity to touch are possible in sites (lipid storage diseases).2 that are readily exposed to repeated infections, such Evaluation of lymphadenomegaly as the tonsils and inguinal lymph nodes); 4) metasta- tic lymph nodes from solid tumors are typically hard, It is known that most of the information necessary at times with an irregular surface, not mobile, espe- for formulating a diagnosis of LAM comes from the cially at the deeper levels, painless and insensitive to patient’s medical history and a physical examination. touch; in extreme cases the overlying skin can take In fact, in most cases these two tools are able to pro- on a bluish-red hue and may become very thin, to vide the following data:1 the point of ulcerating. a. the size of the lymph node in relation to the patien- These four types of physical examination findings t's age; permit a distinction, albeit not perfect, of the gener- b. the characteristics of the lymph node obtained ic etiologic categories to which LAM can be attrib- from physical examination (observation, palpa- uted. While rare, it has happened occasionally that tion); lymph nodes showing inflammatory characteristics c. its anatomical location; have been biopsied years after their appearance and d. the epidemiological and clinical categorization found to be lymphomatous. Others, although they that is possible in this patient. are extremely painful and sensitive to touch, prove From the point of view of just the size of the node, to be neoplastic, and still others that are hard and there is agreement that up to 2 cm in diameter they fixed in older patients are found to be granuloma- can be normally palpable – i.e. without carrying def- tous and partially calcified. This must be kept in mind inite pathologic significance – only in young children, when interpreting the relationships which will be pre- who readily respond to any number of antigenic stim- sented below. uli with lymphoid hyperplasia, and in adults at The site itself of a LAM is often crucial. Localized LAM inguinal sites, as evidence of previous infections, even first requires a scrupulous clinical examination of all subclinical ones, of limbs, perineum and genitals. It the zones that are anatomically afferent to the enlarged is believed that except for infancy, and in the inguinal lymph nodes, although it cannot be ruled out that they area at any age, the presence of one or more lymph might be the first signs of a precocious clinical man- nodes larger than 1 cm in diameter calls for further ifestation in the course of a progressive systemic investigation if a definite cause cannot be identified. process. This is especially true if the physical charac- LAM arising in subjects under 30 years of age have an teristics of these lymph nodes are of the lymphomatous infectious or inflammatory origin in 80% of the cas- or metastatic type.