Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum. ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.
Family Medicine (Expert Forum)
Are Palpable Lymh Nodes considered normal?
Answered by
Kevin Pho, MD - Internal Medicine
Kevin Pho, MD
Boston - MA
Questions in the Family Medicine forum are answered by Dr. J.M. Keyes. Topics covered include general health issues, adolescence, babies, child health, eating disorders, fitness, immunizations and vaccines, infectious diseases, medical tests and procedures, and senior health.
Are Palpable Lymh Nodes considered normal?
by albot, Jan 27, 2006 12:00AM
I had a physical months ago with a respected internist. When he checked lymph nodes, he said that he could feel lymph nodes in differnt areas. He could feel what he called "very small" symetrical nodes in the neck, soft nodes in the axilla, small nodes in the groin area, and small nodes in the epitrochlear bilaterally. He said the nodes felt normal and not malignant and they were small. He said that being thinner can make it easy to feel nodes in the groin and it is common to feel nodes in the axilla area of men. My question is: Do palpable nodes necessarily mean a disease process or something serious?
Doctor's Answer
by Kevin Pho, MD, Jan 28, 2006 12:00AM
, Jan 28, 2006 12:00AM
Some of the larger lymph nodes can be palpated easily - especially in thinner persons.
Lymph nodes normally enlarge in infection and diseases of inflammation. After the infection has been treated, or the inflammatory process has passed, they normally decrease in size.
Lymph nodes that persistantly remain elevated should be evaluated for cancer (i.e. a lymphoma).
You can discuss this with your personal physician.
Followup with your personal physician is essential.
This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.
Kevin, M.D.
kevinmd_b
Lymph nodes normally enlarge in infection and diseases of inflammation. After the infection has been treated, or the inflammatory process has passed, they normally decrease in size.
Lymph nodes that persistantly remain elevated should be evaluated for cancer (i.e. a lymphoma).
You can discuss this with your personal physician.
Followup with your personal physician is essential.
This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.
Kevin, M.D.
kevinmd_b
Also don't concentrate on your body so much that you are checking it every single day because if you feel around long enough odds are you will find something that is odd even if it is normal anatomy.
Of course I am not a doctor and you should discuss this with your PCP.