Swollen Lymph Nodes / Swollen Lymph Glands

Swollen Lymph Nodes / Swollen Lymph Glands

The top reason to have a biopsy (whether an FNA or a core needle biopsy) is to rule out the worse possibility: cancer.

What types of cancers are found in lymph nodes?
  1. lymphoma ( kind of like a solid form of leukemia)
  2. metastatic carcinoma (cancers that have spread from one part of the body to the lymph node

What do I do if I find a lump or mass on my breast?

What do I do if I find a lump or mass on my breast?

1.  Lymphoma

– Lymphoma is a malignancy of the cells that live in the lymph nodes: Immune cells such as B cells, T cells, plasma cells, and other blood/immune cells (histiocytes, neutrophils, mast cells etc.)
– Lymphoma can be found in one lymph node or many lymph nodes (lymph nodes are connected to each other in chains) as well as lymphoma can afflict only part of one lymph node (before occupying the entire lymph node or having spread). Therefore, the classic implications of staging are kinda different than usual cancers. That is, stage 4 cancer means it has spread across the diaphragm, far away from the original site, to other organs and possibly into the bones; whereas lymphoma can spread to all lymph nodes which is part of what it does, and that has different outcomes than a stage 4 carcinoma.
2.  Metastatic cancer
– Metastasis into an adjacent lymph node can happen with any malignancy. Metastasis is invasion of the lymph node by a foreign entity: cancer.  Certain types of cancers spread either through the lymphatic system to lymph nodes, or through the bloodstream to other body parts, organs or bones.
-The type of cancer that goes to the lymph node is usually connected to the region that has been previously affected by cancer (i.e. a left breast cancer may spread to the regional lymph node of the nearest left axilla (left under arm pit). Sometimes a lymph node has cancer, but the original site of the original tumor cannot be found. This happens quite often with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (the type Michael Douglas had). A neck lymph node appears enlarged, has cancer in it, but the original tumor cannot be found. That is, when the ENT looks down the throat or up the nose, no tumor is found.
You can usually assume that it is from the oropharynx from the “look” of the metastatic cancer as well as from ancillary testing, such as immunohistochemical staining and molecular testing.
lymph-nodes-fna

Insurances we accept

  • Anthem Blue Cross
  • SAG/AFTRA
  • Aetna

  • Cignacare

  • HealthNet

  • MultiPlan

  • UnitedHealth

ENLARGED OR SWOLLEN LYMPH NODES

Other Reasons for Enlarged Lymph Nodes (lymphadenopathy):

Classification of Breast Cancer Malignancy Using FNA Biopsies

Infection or inflammation can make lymph nodes grow and expand.

Scrofula is an enlargement of a lymph node in the neck from TB (tuberculosis) and it used to be a hallmark of children who got infected with TB.

Inflammatory conditions can occur from something chronic, like SLE (lupus) or something acute, like cat scratch fever. In cat scratch, there is a history of having a cat or being in contact with a cat, who has scratched the person. Cat scratch is caused by a bacterium, Bartonella henselae. It gets into the skin, and travels to the nearest lymph nodes, like under the arm and in the neck.

Sometimes viral infections, such as mono (mononucleosis) can make the neck lymph nodes get really big. And even biopsies and excisions of the lymph nodes can look a bit like lymphoma. But a mononucleosis viral test can be employed to rule in or rule out mono.

Reactions to other things can cause reactive lymphadenopathy, the causes of which are wide and varied.

Sometimes lymph nodes may be enlarged, but not for any reason. Just that the person has just noticed them, maybe due to weight loss from dieting…

Dr. Celina Nadelman, M.D., is one of very few doctors in the U.S. to uniquely serve as both a board certified cytopathologist and a fine needle aspiration (FNA) specialist. In addition to operating her own FNA clinic and in-office laboratory practice in Beverly Hills, California, Dr. Nadelman performs the same dual-role services at Los Angeles County’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Outpatient Center, and is also a clinical instructor at UCLA’s David Geffen School of Medicine Greater Los Angeles Training Cytotechnology Consortium.

CELINA NADELMAN, M.D.

  • Biopsy and interpretation by a Board Certified Cytopathologist

  • Ultrasound-guided and palpation-guided FNAs

  • Preliminary diagnosis within 24 hours in most cases

  • Next day appointments available

  • We accept most major PPO insurances and Medicare.

  • Patient and physician time savings

  • Relief of patient anxiety

  • Medical, technical and fiscal resource conservation

  • Appropriate and expeditious triage of the patient and their sample

  • Diagnostic ultrasound services

WE ARE HERE TO HELP

Request an appointment with The Cancer Biopsy Doctor, Celina M. Nadelman, M.D. today.

Cancer Biopsy & FNA Doctor in Los Angeles - Dr. Nadelman

CELINA NADELMAN, M.D.

  • Biopsy and interpretation by a Board Certified Cytopathologist

  • Ultrasound-guided and palpation-guided FNAs

  • Preliminary diagnosis within 24 hours in most cases

  • Next day appointments available

  • Most insurances accepted

  • Patient and physician time savings

  • Relief of patient anxiety

  • Medical, technical and fiscal resource conservation

  • Appropriate and expeditious triage of the patient and their sample

  • Diagnostic ultrasound services

WE ARE HERE TO HELP

Request an appointment with The Cancer Biopsy Doctor, Celina M. Nadelman, M.D. today.

CELINA NADELMAN, M.D.

  • Biopsy and interpretation by a Board Certified Cytopathologist

  • Ultrasound-guided and palpation-guided FNAs

  • Preliminary diagnosis within 24 hours in most cases

  • Next day appointments available

  • Most insurances accepted

  • Patient and physician time savings

  • Relief of patient anxiety

  • Medical, technical and fiscal resource conservation

  • Appropriate and expeditious triage of the patient and their sample

  • Diagnostic ultrasound services

WE ARE HERE TO HELP

Request an appointment with The Cancer Biopsy Doctor, Celina M. Nadelman, M.D. today.