Enlargement of lymph nodes is the commonest symptom of lymphoma. Most individuals with lymphoma have no other symptom. But what do enlarged lymph nodes really mean? Does an increase in size of lymph nodes automatically indicate a lymphoma?
Lymph node enlargement is not limited to lymphoma at all. In fact, there are several more common reasons for lymph node enlargement than lymphoma.
The most common cause of enlarged lymph nodes is infection. As lymph nodes are a part of the immune system that fights infections in the body, the presence of infection often causes lymph nodes to increase in size. All kinds of infections can cause node enlargement. As infections are far more common than cancers, enlarged nodes in the neck or groin are more often a sign of infection than a cancer. Read more about the function of the lymph system in Understanding the Lymph System.
Some other immune diseases like sarcoidosis or SLE can also cause lymph node enlargement all over the body.
Some medicines and allergies can occasionaly cause enlarged nodes.
Cancers other than lymphoma are also a common cause of lymph node enlargement. Many cancers of the throat or mouth, and cancers of the lung or breast often spread to nodes in the neck. Breast or lung cancer can spread to nodes in the armpits. Cancers in the pelvis like the uterus or ovary, and those of the rectum and anus can spread to the groin. Cancers like leukemia can also cause enlarged nodes in different parts of the body.
Children with some diseases that affect the body metabolism (called storage diseases) can have enlarged nodes.
Thus lymphoma is only one of the many possible causes of enlarging lymph nodes over the body. A doctor will test you for many of these diseases before calling your enlarged lymph nodes a lymphoma.
Other symptoms (in addition to enlarged nodes) may be a guide to diagnosis. Read about the Warning Signs of Lymphoma.
The best test to determine whether a lymph node has lymphoma is a lymph node biopsy. A needle aspiration is an easier option but does not give the doctor all the details he may need for treatment. See the article on Lymph Node Biopsy.
If the lymph node tests positive for lymphoma, special tests may be carried out on the biopsy material to determine exactly which type of lymphoma it is. The article on Molecular Markers for Lymphoma Diagnosis gives you more details.
