- Fever?
Why: should consider infectious mononucleosis (glandular fever), brucellosis, dengue fever, toxoplasmosis and Still's disease. If fever is absent should consider Hodgkin's disease, chronic myeloid leukemia, polycythaemia, sarcoidosis, secondary syphilis, lymphosarcoma.
- Generalized itch?
Why: must consider lymphoma.
- Non-pitting edema (skin is not indented when compressed) of an extremity?
Why: would suggest lymphedema (swelling especially in the subcutaneous tissues as a result of obstruction of the lymphatic vessels or lymph nodes and the accumulation of large amounts of lymph fluid in the affected area).
- Genital ulcers or sores?
Why: may suggest herpes simplex infection, primary or secondary syphilis, Donovanosis, Chancroid or Lymphogranuloma venereum which may all cause enlarged groin lymph nodes.
- Enlarged occipital lymph nodes (back of head)?
Why: should consider dermatitis of the scalp, head lice, cellulitis, boil, fungal skin infection or a tick bite. However glandular fever or rubella may begin with enlargement of the occipital lymph nodes.
- Enlarged neck lymph nodes?
Why: must consider tonsillitis, infectious mononucleosis (glandular fever), tuberculosis, syphilis, toxoplasmosis, sarcoidosis, Hodgkin's disease and malignancy. 80% of malignancies are metastatic squamous cell carcinoma (type of skin cancer).
- Enlarged axillary lymph nodes?
Why: must consider breast abscess, breast cancer, infections of the arm, tuberculosis, Hodgkin's disease.
- Enlarged supraclavicular lymph nodes (just above the collar bone)?
Why: must consider lung cancer, cancer of the gastrointestinal tract, infections of the neck, arm, larynx or thyroid.
- Enlarged inguinal lymph nodes (groin)?
Why: must consider infections of the leg and genitalia, cancers of the genitalia, venereal disease or melanotic sarcoma.
- Symptoms of Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma?
Why: e.g. painless localized or widespread enlarged lymph nodes, sweating, generalized itch.
- Symptoms of Hodgkin's disease?
Why: e.g. painless (rubbery) enlarged lymph nodes especially in the neck or axilla, malaise, weakness, weight loss, fever, drenching night sweats, generalized itch, alcohol induced in any enlarged lymph nodes.
- Symptoms of leukemia?
Why: e.g. tiredness, pallor, fever, small pin-head sized bruises, weight loss, localized infections such as tonsillitis, enlarged lymph nodes, bleeding gums.
- Symptoms of sarcoidosis?
Why: e.g. shortness of breath, cough, tiredness, joint pain, skin symptoms occur in 10% of cases and may include purple or brown plaques or nodules on face, nose, ears and neck in chronic sarcoidosis. Peripheral lymph node enlargement occurs in 5% of people.
- Symptoms of bacterial tonsillitis?
Why: e.g. abrupt onset of sore throat, severe throat pain, extreme difficulty in swallowing, pain on talking, foul smelling breath, fever, tender enlarged lymph nodes in the neck.
- Symptoms of infectious mononucleosis (glandular fever)?
Why: e.g. sore throat, fever, tiredness, poor appetite, aching muscles, skin rash, enlarged tonsils, enlarged neck lymph nodes.
