Swollen lymph nodes or lymphomas as they are also called, are basically a complication of any disease where the lymphatic system has been damaged.
The swollen lymph nodes of the lymphatic system are actually one of the body’s natural defenses against infection or illness. Among your body’s many less known systems, it is in charge of filtering your fluid levels so that your body maintains a constant fluid balance.
One of the body’s lesser-understood systems, your swollen lymph nodes act as filters that help your immune system gets rid of harmful bacteria, cells or even other foreign material that passes by your lymphatic system. This results in more fluid loss, which leads to the production of more lymph fluid. There are several different factors that may trigger the onset of this condition, which includes radiation therapy and chemotherapy treatments. A lymphoma is a cancerous tumor that results from a defective gene or a cell mutation.
Lymph nodes or lymphomas will often cause no symptoms at all, and sometimes are not diagnosed for years.
When you first notice that you have a swollen lymph node or lymphoma, your doctor may do a simple physical examination of the area. If you have any unusual bumps or swelling, the doctor may order an ultrasound (also known as a computed tomography) scan. These procedures can be very helpful in the diagnosis of this condition.
When the doctor notices a lump or swelling on the skin, he may order a CT scan of the area of the lymph node. In addition to being able to identify the exact location of the swollen lymph node or lymphoma, an ultrasound scan can also reveal if there are other tissue masses in your neck, groin, back or abdomen.
After performing a physical exam and performing blood tests, your doctor may perform a series of tests to determine the type of lymphoma and if it is aggressive or non-aggressive. The doctors may also run tests to find out if you have any type of infection, such as the Epstein-Barr virus, which can lead to lymphoma. If you test positive for the B-cell leukemia, they may want to run a bone marrow test in order to determine if the cells have developed into a bone marrow-forming disease.
Although a lymphoma cannot spread to other areas of the body, it can cause difficulty breathing.
When a physician suspects that a lymph node or lymphoma may be present, a biopsy is usually done. This procedure involves the removal of a small portion of the lymph node that may have become enlarged. The area around the tumor is removed and examined under a microscope. If there is a change in the lymphatic fluid, a CT scan is required to confirm or rule out cancer.
Sometimes, the doctor may choose to remove the entire gland or lymph node instead of just one or two of the lymph nodes. During surgery, the entire lymph node or the lymph node itself may be removed or part of the gland can be removed. However, depending on the lymph node or gland that needs to be removed, the doctor may choose to do both the surgery or just one.
As with any type of surgery, having a lymph node removed may cause scarring.
Therefore, in some cases it is advisable to have a second opinion.
Depending on the location of the swollen lymph node or lymphoma, radiation treatment may be used. When the doctor detects the presence of lymph nodes in more than one area of the body, a biopsy is performed. Radiation therapy uses high-energy rays to kill cancerous cells.
A small amount of radioactive substance is injected directly into the enlarged area. This radioactive substance will activate any existing cancer cells in the body; however, when cancer cells are present, only the ones that have an abnormal ability to grow will be killed.
Another type of radiation treatment is called chemotherapy. Chemotherapy uses medication, which includes drugs, to kill cancer cells while leaving healthy cells unharmed. This treatment is often given before surgery is performed.
