Editing Lymph node (section)

===Swelling===
[[File:Swollen Lymph Nodes.jpg|thumb|200x200px|A still image from a 3D medical animation showing enlarged lymph nodes]]
{{Main|Lymphadenopathy}}
<!--Definitions, causes and symptoms-->Lymph node enlargement or swelling is known as [[lymphadenopathy]].{{sfn|Davidson's|2018|p=927}} Swelling may be due to many causes, including [[infection]]s, [[neoplasm|tumor]]s, [[autoimmune disease]], [[adverse drug reaction|drug reactions]], diseases such as [[amyloidosis]] and [[sarcoidosis]], or because of [[lymphoma]] or [[leukemia]].{{sfn|Hoffbrand's|2016|p=114}}{{sfn|Davidson's|2018|p=927}} Depending on the cause, swelling may be painful, particularly if the expansion is rapid and due to an infection or inflammation.{{sfn|Davidson's|2018|p=927}} Lymph node enlargement may be localized to an area, which might suggest a local source of infection or a tumour in that area that has spread to the lymph node.{{sfn|Davidson's|2018|p=927}} It may also be generalized, which might suggest infection, connective tissue or autoimmune disease, or a malignancy of blood cells such as a [[lymphoma]] or [[leukemia]].{{sfn|Davidson's|2018|p=927}} Rarely, depending on location, lymph node enlargement may cause problems such as difficulty breathing, or compression of a blood vessel (for example, [[superior vena cava obstruction]]{{sfn|Davidson's|2018|p=1326}}).

<!--Investigations-->Enlarged lymph nodes might be felt as part of a [[medical examination]], or found on [[medical imaging]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Gaddey |first1=Heidi L. |last2=Riegel |first2=Angela M. |date=2016-12-01 |title=Unexplained Lymphadenopathy: Evaluation and Differential Diagnosis |url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27929264 |journal=American Family Physician |volume=94 |issue=11 |pages=896–903 |issn=1532-0650 |pmid=27929264}}</ref> Features of the [[medical history]] may point to the cause, such as the speed of onset of swelling, pain, and other [[constitutional symptoms]] such as fevers or weight loss.{{sfn|Davidson's|2018|p=913}} For example, a tumour of the breast may result in swelling of the lymph nodes under the arms{{sfn|Davidson's|2018|p=927}} and weight loss and [[night sweat]]s may suggest a malignancy such as lymphoma.{{sfn|Davidson's|2018|p=927}}

In addition to a [[medical exam]] by a [[medical practitioner]], [[medical test]]s may include [[blood test]]s and scans may be needed to further examine the cause.{{sfn|Davidson's|2018|p=927}} A [[biopsy]] of a lymph node may also be needed.{{sfn|Davidson's|2018|p=927}}