Lymphadenopathy and Malignancy

Outline

Introducing Historical Clues Physical Examination Nodal Character and Size Diagnosis and Management Lymph Node Biopsy

Introducing

Lymphadenopathy : an abnormality in the size or character of lymph nodes Categories of Lymphadenopathy : MIAMI Malignancies,

Infections, Autoimmune disorders, Miscellaneous and unusual conditions, and Iatrogenic causes

The most concerning to the patient and physician : the possibility of underlying malignancy

Low Rate of Malignancy in Primary Care : 1.1 % of pt’s presenting to the office with unexplained

lymphadenopathy

Historical Clues

1. Age and Duration2. Exposures & History3. Associated Symptoms

Historical Clues : Age and Duration

Malignant rate increases with age. A majority of healthy children have palpable c

ervical, inguinal and axillary adenopathy. Most of them is infectious or benign in etiology.

Lymphadenopathy that lasts less than 2 weeks or more than 1 year with no progressive size increase has a very low likelihood of being neoplastic.

Rare Exception : low-grade Hodgkin’s/ non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas and, occasionally, chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Historical Clues : Exposures & History

Animals, biting insects, infectious contacts, recurrent infections, chronic use of medications. Travel-related exposures and immunization status.

Tobacco, alcohol, ultraviolet radiation : raise suspicion for metastatic carcinoma

Occupational exposures to silicon or beryllium

Sexual history and orientation. AIDS pt’s Family history

Medications That Can Cause Lymphadenopathy

Allopurinol (Zyloprim) Atenolol (Tenormin) Captopril (Capoten) Carbamazepine (Tegretol) Gold Hydralazine (Apresoline) Penicillins Phenytoin (Dilantin) Primidone (Mysoline) Pyrimethamine (Daraprim) Quinidine Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim) Sulindac (Clinoril)

Historical Clues : Associated Symptoms

Constitutional symptoms : fever, fatigue, malaise with atypical lymphocytosis → mononucleosis syndromes

Significant fever, night sweats, unexplained BW loss > 10% of normal BW → “B” symptoms of Hodgkin’s lymphoma

Arthralgias, muscle weakness, unusual rash → autoimmune diseases such as RA, SLE, dermatomyositis

Physical Examination

Head and Neck LN Axillary LN Inguinal LN

Lymph nodes of the head and neck, and the regions that they drain

Head and Neck Lymphadenopathy

In one outpatient primary care study : cervical LNs are palpable in 51% of adult physicals, with the incidence declined with age.

Infection is the most common cause Most cases resolve quickly; some entities can

create persistent lymphadenopathy for months. (ex. Atypical mycobacteria, cat-scratch disease, toxoplasmosis, kikuchi’s lymphadenitis, sarcoidosis, Kawasaki’s syndrome.)

Supraclavicular nodes are the most likely to be malignant and should always be investigated, even in children.

Axillary lymphatics and the structures that they drain

Axillary Lymphadenopathy

Most of cases are nonspecific or reactive to local injury/infection in etiology.

Persistent lymphadenopathy is less commonly found in the axillary nodes than in the inguinal chain.

Breast adenocarcinoma often metastasis initially to the anterior and central axillary nodes, which may be palpable before discovery of the primary tumor.

Antecubital or epitrochlear lymphadenopathy can suggest lymphoma or melanoma of the extremity.

Inguinal lymphatics and the structures that they drain

Inguinal Lymphadenopathy

It is common, with nodes enlarged up to 1 to 2 cm in diameter in many healthy adults, but it is of low suspicion of malignancy.

Benign reactive lymphadenopathy and infection are the most common etiologies.

Although some tumors, such as Hodgkin’s lymphomas, penile/ vulvar SCC, melanoma in this area, may present with inguinal lymphadenopathy, it is typical presenting finding in neither case.

Generalized Lymphadenopathy

Generalized lymphadenopathy : lymphadenopathy found in two or more distinct anatomic regions

More likely to result from serious infections, autoimmune diseases, and disseminated malignancies.

Specific testing is usually required. Generalized adenopathy infrequently occurs i

n pt’s with neoplasms, but it is occasionally seen in patients with leukemias and lymphomas, or advanced disseminated metastatic solid tumors.

Nodal Character and Size

Hard and painless nodes have higher suspicion of malignancy or granulomatous disease.

Viral infection typically produces hyperplastic nodes that are bilateral, mobile, nontender, and clearly demarcated.

Palpable supraclavicular, iliac, or popliteal nodes of any size and epitrochlear nodes larger than 5mm are considered abnormal.

Increasing size and persistence over time are of greater concern for malignancy than a specific level of nodal enlargement.

Algorithm for evaluation, diagnosis, and management.

Diagnosis and Management

The first step : reviewing pts’ medications, considering unusual causes of lymphadenopathy, and reconsidering the risk factors for neoplasm. If a diagnosis is not suggested, and the patient is deemed low risk for neoplasm, the regional lymphadenopathy can be safely observed.

It is suggested that non-inguinal lymphadenopathy lasting more than one month merits specific investigation or biopsy.

Lymph Node Biopsy

Once biopsy has been chosen, ideally the largest, most suspicious, and most accessible node is selected, taking into account differing diagnostic yields by site.

Inguinal nodes offer the lowest yield, and supraclavicular nodes have the highest.

Excisional biopsy remains the diagnostic procedure of choice.

Persistent Generalized Lymphadenopathy (PGL)

Lymph nodes larger than 1.5 cm

in diameter in 2 or more

extrainguinal sites of 3 or more

months duration

Nodes are non-tender,

symmetrical, and often involve the

posterior cervical, axillary,

occipital, and epitrochlear nodes

Presenting Signs and Symptoms

Overview

Swelling of lymph nodes is a frequently encountered symptom

It is important to carry out a careful history and physical exam

The cause often becomes obvious, but in more complicated cases, laboratory tests and lymph node biopsy may be necessary to establish a definitive diagnosis

Where possible, do a CBC (FBC) and chest x-ray before making a diagnosis of PGL

 Hilar or mediastinal lymphadenopathy on CXR

Diagnostics

Management and Treatment

No specific treatment for PGL

Unique features, Caveats

Develops in up to 50% of HIV-infected individuals

Up to one-third do not have any other symptom on presentation (WHO clinical stage 1)

In HIV-positive patients, PGL is a clinical diagnosis.

No further examinations are necessary, unless

there are features of another disease

 PGL may slowly regress during the course of HIV

infection and may disappear before the onset of

AIDS

Cervical nodes most commonly involved Usual course of lymph node disease is as

follows:

Firm, discrete nodes

fluctuant nodes matted together

skin breakdown, abscesses, chronic sinuses

healing and scarring

Presenting Signs and Symptoms

Tuberculosis lymphadenopathy

Fine-needle aspiration of the involved lymph node

  Extra-thoracic lymph node aspiration  Positive smears for acid-fast bacilli on fine-

needle aspirates of the involved lymph nodes (high rate in HIV patients)

  In smear-negative pulmonary TB, it is

worthwhile aspirating extra-thoracic lymph nodes to confirm diagnosis of TB (80% positive)

Diagnostics

TB abscess as part of immune reconstitution syndrome

Management and Treatment

Treatment should be started following the

national TB Guidelines.

For further details, see Part A Module 2,

Session 3.

Unique features, Caveats

One of the most common forms of extra-pulmonary TB in HIV patients

Fluctuant cervical nodes that develop over weeks to months without significant inflammation or tenderness suggest infection with M. tuberculosis, atypical mycobacteria, or scratch disease (Bartonella henselae).

In severe immunocompromised patients, tuberculosis lymphadenopathy may be acute and resemble acute pyogenic lymphadenitis

Miliary TB is an important consideration in patients with generalized lymphadenopathy