Differential Diagnosis Of Lymphadenopathy

What is the differential diagnosis of lymphadenopathy?

The significance of cervical, axillary, or inguinal lymphadenopathy depends on the characteristics of the lymph nodes and associated symptoms. Infection, autoimmune disease,Endocrine,Lipid storage disease and Malignant are all included in the differential diagnosis.
Lymphadenopathy can be a manifestation of a drug reaction with Dilantin being a classic example of pseudo-lymphoma. Metastatic tumors tend to have characteristic lymph nodes that are rock hard and fixed. Lymph nodes involved with lymphoma or Hodgkin’s Disease are rubbery, non-tender and non-fixed. Lymph nodes that are involved with infectious disorders tend to be inflamed; hence, they tend to be tender to palpation. Any lymph node which enlarges with observation or does not respond to empiric antibiotics from a presumed infectious source should be biopsied.