Primary care approach to lymphadenopathy.
Lymphadenopathy is a common presenting symptom. It is a manifestation of many disease processes ranging from self-limiting ones to those that are incurable and fatal. The diagnostic factors used to evaluate the etiology of one or more enlarged lymph nodes include: the age of the patient, the clinical history, the physical examination, and the anatomic location/nodal history and characteristics. With the selection of the proper tests, unnecessary or invasive treatments can be avoided. Ultimately, when a neoplastic process is suspected, a lymph node biopsy is the definitive test.
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Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of Massachusetts Medical Center, Worcester.
D001706:Biopsy; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes; D008206:Lymphatic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000175:diagnosis; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D010808:Physical Examination; D011320:Primary Health Care