Small, bean-shaped nodes at various points throughout the body that function to filter the lymph fluid and attempt to destroy the microorganisms and abnormal cells which collect there. The most common locations are the neck (both sides and front), armpit (axillary) and groin (inguinal), but also under the jaw and behind the ears. Swollen or painful lymph nodes generally result from localized or systemic infection, abscess formation, or malignancy. Other causes of enlarged lymph nodes are extremely rare. Physical examination for lymph nodes includes pressing on them to check for size, texture, warmth, tenderness and mobility. Most lymph nodes can not be felt until they become swollen, and then will only be tender when pressed or massaged. A lymph node that is painful even without touching indicates greater swelling. Lymph nodes can usually be distinguished from other growths because they generally feel small, smooth, round or oval-shaped and somewhat mobile when attempts are made to push them sideways. Because less fat covers the lymph nodes in children, they are easier to feel, even when they are not busy filtering germs or making antibodies. Childrens' nodes enlarge faster, get bigger in response to an infection and stay swollen longer than an adult's. Also known (incorrectly) as lymph glands. Also: Axillary Nodes, Inguinal Nodes, Lymph Gland, Lymph Glands, Lymph Node, Lymphatic

	Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL) The Condition "...It can then spread to other parts of the body, including the lymph nodes, liver, spleen, central nervous system (brain and spinal cord), and testicles (in males)..." Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML) The Condition "...It can sometimes spread to other parts of the body including the lymph nodes, liver, spleen, central nervous system (brain and spinal cord), and testicles in males..." Adenitis Related Topic "An inflammation of one or several lymph nodes, or related lymphoid tissues..." Adenopathy Related Topic "Swelling or enlargement of the lymph nodes, also known as lymphadenopathy..." Allergic Rhinitis / Hay Fever Recommendation Acupuncture "Treatment with acupuncture can help promote both immune system function and drainage of lymphatic fluid..." Recommendation Massage "Therapeutic massage can assist drainage of lymphatic fluid..." Bile duct Cancer The Condition "...Bile duct cancer tends to spread into the liver, along the bile duct surface and through the lymph system to lymph nodes in the region of the liver..." Boils, Abscesses, Carbuncles The Condition "...There may be swelling around the boil as well as swelling of any lymph nodes near the boil..." Recommendation Homeopathic Remedies "...The person may have moist or greasy-looking skin, with swollen lymph nodes and offensive breath, and be very sensitive to changes in temperature..." Breast Cancer The Condition "...If the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes under the armpit or above the collarbone, they may feel enlarged and hard..." Our Question about how long you usually wear a bra "...Poisons accumulating in breast tissue are normally flushed by clear lymph fluid into large clusters of lymph nodes nestling in the armpits and upper chest..." Recommendation Change In Clothing Habits "...There is strong evidence that this is as a result of impaired lymphatic flow..." Carcinoid Cancer The Condition "...In cases where somewhat larger tumors have spread to local tissues and local lymph nodes but are, along with these locally invaded tissues, still totally surgically removable, the average survival has been 8 years ranging up to 23 years..." Castor Oil As A Treatment "...Reasons For UseConditions which have been responsive to castor oil applications include ... swollen lymph nodes..." Chagas Disease The Condition "...These symptoms may include fatigue, fever, enlarged liver or spleen, and swollen lymph glands..." Change In Clothing Habits As A Treatment "...Reasons For UseTight clothing may cause health problems by restricting the natural flow of blood and lymphatic fluid..." Chronic Fatigue / Fibromyalgia Syndrome Our Question about cervical node swelling "The lymph nodes involved in CFS are small, moveable, not tender and most commonly involve the neck, axillary region or inguinal region..." Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) The Condition "...In time, it can also invade other parts of the body, including the lymph nodes, liver, and spleen..." Cigarette Smoke Damage Relationship to Lung Cancer "...Large cell cancer spreads to lymph nodes of the chest and it enters the blood stream where it gets carried to other organs such as the liver, bone, brain, and spinal cord..." Cleavers As A Treatment "...This herb is also useful in treating swollen lymph glands, or congested glands and congestion in the breasts..." Encephalitis The Condition "...These infections usually cause only chills, fever, and swelling of lymph nodes, though seizures and headaches can occur..." Enlarged Lymph Nodes The Condition "...The lumps that you feel in your neck or under your jaw when you have a cold or a sore throat are called lymph nodes..." Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) Our Question about cervical node swelling "As another one of its nicknames - glandular fever - implies, perhaps the most distinguishing mono symptom is enlarged glands or lymph nodes, especially in the neck, but also in the armpit(s) and groin..." Esophageal Cancer The Condition "...Complications If the cancer spreads outside the esophagus, it often goes to the lymph nodes first..." Exudates Related Topic "...Unlike a transudate, which is merely edema from lymphatic congestion, exudates contain dead cells, erythrocytes, white blood cells and often pus..." Fibrocystic Breast Disease The Condition "...Their theory is that bras can bind and constrict the lymphatic circulation..." Herpes Simplex Type II The Condition "...It is common among men and women to experience low-grade fever, headache, generalized muscle aching, and tender, swollen lymph nodes in the groin..." Histiocytosis X (Rare) The Condition "...The histiocytes damage not only the lungs but also the skin, lymph glands, bone, liver, and spleen..." Histoplasmosis The Condition "...When histoplasmosis spreads, it can affect bone marrow, the liver, spleen, lymph nodes, mouth, intestines, brain, and the adrenal glands..." HIV/AIDS The Condition "...This illness may include fever, headache, tiredness or enlarged lymph nodes..." Our Question about cervical node swelling "Swollen, firm and possibly tender lymph nodes lasting longer than three months are a symptom of AIDS..." Hodgkin's Disease Related Topic "Cancer of the lymphatic system and lymph nodes..." Hodgkin's Lymphoma The Condition "...Because lymphatic tissue is present in many parts of the body, Hodgkin's disease can start almost anywhere..." Our Question about cervical node swelling "Hodgkin's lymphoma may present initially as painless lymph node enlargement, especially of the neck and above the collar bone..." Infectious Mononucleosis - Mono The Condition "...Prognosis; Complications Fever usually abates in about 10 days, and swollen lymph glands and spleen heal in 4 weeks..." Infectious Mononucleosis (CMV) The Condition "...Fever usually resolves in around 10 days, and swollen lymph glands and spleen return to normal in 4 weeks..." Kaposi's Sarcoma The Condition "...a type of malignant tumor of the blood vessels that develops most commonly on the skin and mucous membranes that line the mouth, nose and anus, but may also affect internal organs - particularly the lymph nodes), lungs and organs of the digestive system such as the liver, stomach and intestine..." Kidney Cancer Recommendation Surgery "...The most common form of surgery for RCC, radical nephrectomy involves removal of the entire kidney, often along with the attached adrenal gland, surrounding fatty tissues and nearby lymph nodes (regional lymphadenectomy), depending upon how far the cancer has spread..." Leukemia Related Topic "Cancer of the lymph glands and bone marrow resulting in overproduction of white blood cells (related to Hodgkin's disease)..." Liver Cancer The Condition "...When liver cancer metastasizes outside the liver, the cancer cells tend to spread to nearby lymph nodes and to the bones and lungs..." Lymphadenitis Related Topic "Inflammation or swelling of one or more lymph nodes..." Lymphadenopathy Related Topic "A lymph gland enlargement in response to any foreign substance or disease..." Lymphatic Congestion The Condition "...The lymph moves through the lymph nodes, which act as active purification centers..." Recommendation Castor Oil "One of the most significant benefits of castor oil is being a stimulant to the lymph system, improving lymphatic flow and increasing the activity of the cleansing of tissues..." Lymphatic Stimulation As A Treatment "...Lymphatic congestion or stagnation is a serious problem for many cancer patients..." Lymphatic System Related Topic "...Lymphatic fluid (also called lymph) is rich in white blood cells that fight infection and an important part of the body's immune system..." Lymphoma Related Topic "Any tumor of the lymphatic tissues..." Melanoma The Condition "...Unlike other cancers, melanoma may remain inactive for years, may even regress temporarily, and then suddenly metastasize to lymph nodes or vital organs..." Mercury Toxicity (Amalgam Illness) Our Question about cervical node swelling "Swollen lymph nodes in the neck have been associated with known mercury toxicity..." Middle Ear Infection Recommendation Mercurius solubilis "...The person is often sensitive to both hot and cold temperatures, has swollen lymph nodes, offensive breath, a puffy tongue, and experience sweating and drooling during sleeping..." Mononucleosis Related Topic "Infectious Mononucleosis: An acute, infectious disease caused by the herpes virus or Epstein-Barr virus, with fever and inflamed swelling of the lymph nodes around the neck, under the arms, and in the groin..." Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma The Condition "...Because lymphatic tissue is present in many parts of the body, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma can start almost anywhere in the body..." Our Question about cervical node swelling "The most common symptom of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is a painless swelling of the lymph nodes in the neck, underarm, or groin..." Oregon Grape Root As A Treatment "...Traditional uses of Oregon grape include: acne, arthritis, bronchial congestion, chronic fatigue, eczema, hepatitis, herpes, hypoglycemia, indigestion, lymphatic congestion, menstrual problems, psoriasis, scrofula, syphilis, and vaginitis..." Periodontal Disease - Gingivitis The Condition "...Abscesses can destroy both gum and tooth tissue, cause nearby teeth to become loose and painful, and may cause fever and swollen lymph nodes..." Peyer's Patches Related Topic "Lymphoid follicles similar to lymph nodes or the tonsils, located especially in the lower small intestine..." Poor Small Intestine Health The Condition "...Capillaries in the villi absorb amino acids, glucose, fructose, and galactose while lacteals absorb fatty acid and glycerol to travel through the lymphatic vessels..." Prostate Cancer The Condition "...These scans usually look for the spread of cancer to lymph nodes in the pelvis..." Recommendation Surgery "...The most common technique is a "radical prostatectomy", which involves removing the prostate gland, seminal vesicles and nearby lymph nodes..." Rashes The Condition "...See your family doctor or dermatologist if skin rashes enter your life, especially if you have other symptoms, like fever, swollen lymph nodes, infection, headache, shortness of breath, sensitivity to light, a stiff neck, or achy joints..." Rectal Cancer The Condition "...Stage III A Cancer has metastasized to nearby organs (bladder, reproductive) or lymph nodes..." Sarcoidosis The Condition "...It is a granulomatous disease in which inflammation may occur in lymph nodes, lungs, liver, eyes, skin, joints, kidneys, liver and spleen, and other tissues..." Our Question about cervical node swelling "Enlarged and tender lymph glands in the neck, armpits and groin are a possible sign of sarcoiditis..." Sciatic Related Topic "...problem, far and away the most common causes are a lower back subluxation (responding to adjustment) or pelvic congestion and edema (responding to laxatives, exercise, and decreasing portal vein and lymphatic congestion)..." Sideroblastic Anemia The Condition "...Causes & Development Sideroblastic anemia is also associated with ... Lymphoma ( cancer of the lymph glands)..." Small Intestine Cancer The Condition "...All of these tumors have the potential to invade the bowel wall, spread into adjoining lymph nodes, and metastasize..." Soft Tissue Sarcoma The Condition "...Damaged lymph nodes: Lymph (a clear fluid containing immune system cells) is transported throughout the body by lymph vessels and filtered by lymph nodes..." Staging Related Topic "...Staging factors that influence a patient's prognosis are ... Spread to nearby lymph nodes..." Stasis Related Topic "Static, atonic, unable to resolve or initiate change, resulting in lymphatic and venous stasis, congestion or stagnation..." STD Syphilis The Condition "...Enlargement of lymph nodes located in the groin, arm pits and neck occurs within one week of appearance of the chancre..." Stillingia As A Treatment "...In small doses, stillingia is thought to exert a stimulatory action on the lymphatic and secretory systems..." Stomach Cancer The Condition "...This includes the following ... Scans - discovering if or how far the cancer has spread (staging) may involve scans, including ultrasound, CT or MRI to look at the stomach, liver and lymph nodes..." Testicular Cancer The Condition "...According to the American Cancer Society, some 60-70% of patients with nonseminomas have cancer that has spread to the lymph nodes..." TMJ Problems The Condition "...The TMJ Association lists these symptoms because TMJ implant patients frequently report them ... swollen lymph nodes/glands (e..." Vaginal Depletion Pack As A Treatment "...Function Vaginal depletion packs inhibit local bacterial growth, stimulate the body to slough off abnormal cervical cells, and promote lymphatic drainage..." Villi Related Topic "...Each villus contains a capillary network, a lymphatic vessel, and smooth muscle fibers..."

Last updated: Nov 14, 2009