Swollen Lymph Nodes (Lymphadenopathy)

Lymphadenopathy is a term meaning “disease of the lymph nodes.” It is, however, almost synonymously used with “swollen/enlarged lymph nodes”. It could be due to infection, auto-immune disease, or malignancy.

Lymphoma

Lymphoma is a cancer that begins in the lymphocytes of the immune system and presents as a solid tumor of lymphoid cells. It is treatable with chemotherapy, and in some cases radiotherapy and/or bone marrow transplantation, and can be curable, depending on the histology, type, and stage of the disease. These malignant cells often originate in lymph nodes, presenting as an enlargement of the node (a tumor). Lymphomas are closely related to lymphoid leukemias, which also originate in lymphocytes but typically involve only circulating blood and the bone marrow (where blood cells are generated in a process termed haematopoesis) and do not usually form static tumors. There are many types of lymphomas, and in turn, lymphomas are a part of the broad group of diseases called hematological neoplasms.

Lymphadenopathy (swollen lymph nodes)

Lymphadenopathy is a term meaning “disease of the lymph nodes.” It is, however, almost synonymously used with “swollen/enlarged lymph nodes”. It could be due to infection, auto-immune disease, or malignancy.

Inflammation of a lymph node is called lymphadenitis. In practice, the distinction between lymphadenopathy and lymphadenitis is rarely made. (Inflammation of lymph channels is called lymphangitis.

Alibert-Bazin Syndrome

Mycosis fungoides (also known as Alibert-Bazin syndrome or granuloma fungoides), is the most common form of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. It generally affects the skin, but may progress internally over time.