Lymphadenopathies: An Annoyance or Not?

Özet

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the cases hospitalized with lymphadenopathy in terms of demographic and clinical characteristics, lymphnode involvement regions, infection markers and their diagnoses.Materials and Methods: The medical records of 56 children with lymphadenopathy between 2014 and 2017 were reviewed retrospectively at EgeUniversity, Children’s Hospital, General Pediatrics Unit. Demographic characteristics, clinical findings and accompanying complaints of the caseswere examined. Laboratory tests including complete blood count, sedimentation rates and other biochemical parameters were measured. Lymphnodes were assessed via ultrasonographic examination in terms of distribution, number, size and structure. Lymph node regions were described asanterior or posterior cervical, supraclavicular, submandibular, axillary, epitrochlear, inguinal or popliteal. Laboratory results, microbiological studiesand histopathological examination results of the patients were evaluated.Results: Among the 56 patients enrolled in the study, 31 (55.4%) were male, 25 (44.6%) were female and the median age was 3.7±7.1 years. Themost frequent involvement location of the enlarged lymph nodes was the cervical area. Others occurred in the axillary, inguinal or supraclavicularregions. The median results of the white blood cell, C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rates were 13.670±9760/mm3, 1.9±5.4 mg/dLand 42±51 mm/h respectively. Ultrasonographic evaluation showed that lymph nodes were diagnosed with reactive hyperplasia in 69.6%, suppurativelymphadenopathy in 23.2% and suspected malignancy in 7.1%. Most of the cases with lymphadenopathy resulted from a benign condition.Conclusion: Lymphadenopathy is a common complaint of childhood, mostly benign. The etiology should be elucidated using full history, carefulphysical examination, follow-up, laboratory and imaging methods. A good physical examination and follow-up of the clinical features of the lymphnode are more important than the laboratory and imaging methods. If there is no change in lymph node size in the follow-up, further studies shouldbe performed.