“I have single lymph node enlargement. Is this due to cancer?”
I have been detected with swollen lymph nodes in my neck. In a recent test the report showed a single lymph node enlargement. Could this be a sign of cancer?
7 Answers
Rarely, swollen lymph nodes are caused by cancer. Thank you.
Lymph nodes can swell for a variety of reasons. The most common cause is in reaction to something such as an infection, an abscess or recent tattoo. Reactive lymph nodes are usually tender and rubbery, rather than hard. They can be easily moved under the skin. Malignant (cancerous) nodes are not usually tender, are hard and fixed in place. If the node has grown in size and has persisted without an identifiable cause, it’s best to see a physician, so that they can decide whether or not a biopsy is necessary.
It is possible, but many other things can cause lymph node enlargement. After a history and physical. your doctor may put you on antibiotics, if your history dictates the possibility of an infectious etiology. If that does not work, the node in question may need to be aspirated or biopsied which should provide a definitive diagnosis.
Renee Thomas, MD
Renee Thomas, MD
Lymph nodes are the sieves of the body, reacting to things that are foreign or should not be there. Your body reacts to things all of the time, and thus lymph nodes enlarge and reduce in size all of the time. If it is a persistent enlargement, then there may be something more serious going on. One lymph node enlarged can be seen in many different disorders. Depending on your age, the lymph node size, clinical symptoms and duration of these findings, additional tests, such as a fine needle aspiration of the lymph node (a small biopsy of the lymph node), cultures, blood tests and other imaging tests can all be done to more fully evaluate what is going on.
It may be a sign of cancer. Your primary care doctor will evaluate your clinical history (age, duration, associated symptoms) and the result of physical examination. Based on the findings may decide to wait and see, treat eg with antibiotics, or recommend expert evaluation by an oncologist. Biopsy or excision with pathological evaluation, may be required as a part of the evaluation.
One would not know until the lymph node in question is not removed or fine needle core biopsy or aspiration is examined in pathology. It is most likely benign reactive but it could be involved by lymphoma or metastasis from carcinoma or melanoma depending if you already have cancer somewhere.
Jeff Sims
Pathologist
It may or may not be related to cancer. Lymph nodes are structures/glands that serve as filters to fight infection. For this reason, lymph nodes can often enlarge when you are sick, like with a sore throat, the flu, or a skin infection. These would be benign causes of lymph node enlargement. However, cancers of the lymph nodes (lymphoma) can occur, and this may cause lymph node enlargement. Also, cancers from one part of the body can spread to lymph nodes (metastasis) and cause lymph node enlargement too. The only way to know for certain is to have a biopsy of the enlarged lymph node performed.
