[Doctor, I have a lymph node].
To investigate a recently developed lymphadenopathy can be simple or complex. The medical history, presence or not of symptoms, the general physical examination, and the localization and characteristics of the adenopathy, most often lead to a diagnosis and therapy when indicated. Among young adults, the etiology is either infectious or reactive, rarely tumoral, as opposed to elderly persons. The most important step is to look at signs of severity (or non banality) such as an increased size, hard consistency, supra-clavicular location, an immunocompromised host, a history of Tb exposition. If present, these signs will trigger a biopsy with cyto- or histopathological examination mostly to rule out a malignant tumor. This article reviews the practical steps of an investigation of an isolated adenopathy in an adult patient.
Bille
Jacques
J
Institut de microbiologie, Département de pathologie et de médecine de laboratoire, CHUV, 1011 Lausanne. Jacques.Bille@chuv.ch
Pusztaszeri
Marc
M
D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008206:Lymphatic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*