CLINICAL DIAGNOSTIC MANUAL
Axillary lymphadenopathy refers to the enlargement of lymph nodes in the axillary region. It can be a manifestation of various conditions, ranging from benign infections to malignant neoplasms.
The evaluation of axillary lymphadenopathy requires a complete clinical history and a detailed physical examination, complemented by imaging studies and laboratory tests to determine the underlying cause.
Pathology | Clinical Symptoms and Signs | Suspicion Diagnosis | Confirmation Diagnosis |
|---|---|---|---|
Reactive due to infections | Fever, localized pain, signs of systemic infection. Painful, mobile lymph nodes, erythema, and local warmth. | Clinical history and physical examination. Specific serologies for infections. | Confirmation with positive serologies and/or cultures. |
Infiltrative due to tumours | May be asymptomatic, symptoms related to the primary tumour (weight loss, fatigue). Firm, painless, fixed lymph nodes. | Clinical history and physical examination. Imaging (CT, MRI). | Confirmation with biopsy and histopathological analysis. |
Reticulosis | Fatigue, fever, night sweats, weight loss. Enlarged, firm, painless, often generalized lymph nodes. | Clinical history and physical examination. Complete blood count and imaging tests. | Confirmation with biopsy and histopathological analysis. |
Secondary to the effect of medications | May be asymptomatic or accompanied by other side effects of the medication. Enlarged, generally painless lymph nodes. | Clinical history and physical examination. Review of medications used. | Resolution after discontinuation of the causative medication. |
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