They are often caused by a specific pathology in the region of the lymphatic drainage, which can be diagnosed without additional assessment. Twenty-five percent of LAPs are generalized

and are often a sign of a significant systemic underlying disease.14 There are a variety of etiologies which can lead either to localized or generalized LAP (table 1).16,29,36 Table 1 Differential Diagnosis of Peripheral Lymphadenopathy Localized Adenopathy Cervical lymph nodes are involved more often than are other lymphatic regions. They also have an extensive range of differential diagnoses, making the approach more important. Bacterial or Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical viral infection of the face, nasopharynx, or oropharynx is the most common cause of cervical LAP.38Generalized LAP caused by viruses like Ebstein-Barr Virus and Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical cytomegalovirus, may also present with acute bilateral cervical lymphadenitis.39 Acute pyogenic lymphadenitis, usually due to skin infection by Staphylococcus aureus or pharyngitis by group

A Streptococci, is more common in children. TB also involves the cervical lymph node in 60% to 90% of cases;21 they are firm and non-tender and are known as atypical TB.21 Cat scratch disease, also known as sub-acute regional lymphadenitis, is caused by Bartonella henselae, a Gram-negative bacterium. LAP is seen in more than 80% of these patients.40 Hodgkin’s disease, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical and squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck and metastatic carcinomas are common malignancies in the cervical region.16,41 selleckchem papillary and Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical follicular thyroid cancer and nasopharyngeal carcinomas can also involve and metastasize to the cervical lymph nodes.38 Clinical cervical LAP has been found in 15-30% of the cases of papillary thyroid carcinoma.42 Supraclavicular LAPs, associated Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical with

malignancy in all ages, should always be investigated even in children. The right supraclavicular lymph nodes drain the mediastinum, lungs, and esophagus, while the left nodes drain the gastrointestinal tract and genitourinary tract, which can be involved with the malignancy not of these organs. Hodgkin’s disease, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, breast carcinoma, mycobacterial, and fungal infections can also involve the lymph nodes of this region.29 Axillary LAP is most commonly non-specific or reactive.16 The anterior and central axillary lymph nodes may be palpable due to breast cancer metastasis even before the main lesion is detected. Hodgkin’s disease and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma are seldom seen solely in the auxiliary nodes.16 Cat scratch disease also is a common cause of axillary LAP.40 Benign reactive inguinal LAP is seen in patients who walk barefooted outdoors. Localized LAP is typically caused by infection and is due to sexual transmitted diseases (herpes simplex virus, gonococcal infection, syphilis, chancroid, granuloma inguinale, and lymphogranuloma venereum).