Lymphadenopathy

Differential Diagnosis

Evaluation of Lymphadenopathy

Cervical Lymphadenopathy

• Hodgkin's lymphoma
• Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
• Mononucleosis
• Toxoplasmosis
• Branchial cleft lesions
• Cat scratch disease
• Mycobacterial adenitis

Ultrasound of a typical, normal lymph node: smooth, gently lobulated oval with a hypoechoic cortex measuring less than 3 mm in thickness with a central echogenic hilum.

Ultrasound of a suspected malignant lymph node: 1) Absence of the fatty hilum 2) Increased focal cortical thickness greater than 3 cm; and (bottom) Doppler ultrasonography that shows hyperaemic blood flow in the hilum and central cortex and/or abnormal (non-hilar cortical) blood flow.

Generalized lymphadenopathy of the left neck in a patient with disseminated paracoccidioidomycosis.

CT scan showing axillary lymphadenopathy in a patient with multiple myeloma.