Lymphadenopathy

Lymphadenopathy means swollen or enlarged lymph nodes, the small glands that are part of the body's immune system. Nodes can swell from infection, inflammation, or cancer that has spread to them. On imaging or exam in asbestos-related disease, enlarged nodes can signal that a cancer has moved beyond its original site.

Origin

From the roots for lymph, the Greek aden ("gland"), and pathos ("disease"). The term has been used in clinical medicine since the 19th century to describe abnormal lymph nodes.

Significance in Asbestos Context

For a mesothelioma or asbestos-related lung cancer patient, lymphadenopathy on a CT or PET scan can be an important sign of how far the disease has spread, which affects staging and treatment options. Enlarged mediastinal nodes, in the center of the chest, may need to be sampled to see whether they contain cancer, since that finding can determine whether surgery is possible. Not all enlarged nodes are cancerous; some swell from the inflammation asbestos itself causes. Because node status shapes prognosis and treatment, it often appears in the medical records that document the severity of a claim.

Example Sentence

The PET scan showed mediastinal lymphadenopathy, prompting a mediastinoscopy to check whether the mesothelioma had reached the lymph nodes.

Related Terms

Mediastinoscopy, Staging, Mesothelioma, Metastasis, Lymph Node, PET Scan

Notes

• Ask your oncologist whether enlarged nodes were biopsied and what the results mean for your stage and treatment.
• Keep copies of CT and PET reports, since node findings are part of documenting disease severity.
• Note that inflammation from asbestos can enlarge nodes without cancer, so sampling may be needed to be sure.