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Respiratory Disorders (Expert Forum)
lymph node biopsy
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lymph node biopsy
by htm2us, Oct 15, 2002 12:00AM
A rheumatologist trying to confirm sjogren's syndrome because of bilateral parotitis and dry eyes had a x-ray taken of my son's chest in July.The X-ray suggested the possibility of bilateral hilar adenopathy and subcarinal adenopathy with prominent intestitial markings. a cat scan in sept. was still abnormal.Yesterday he saw a pulmonalogist and he thinks it is sarcoidosis and not sjogrens. He is talking about a lymph node biopsy in the chest to rule out lymphoma because the lungs are clear.(a scope would not show anything) He is feeling great-no weight loss-or illness. my questions are: can you have both sjogren's and sarcoidosis which from my readings on the internet both can cause hilar adenopathy? obviously wanting the biopsy to be the last resort, are there any other non invasive tests to rule out lymphoma before consenting to the biopsy? Is there a safe period of watchful waiting-?-if he had not had the x-ray he certainly would not have known of the problem. thank you very much.
Doctor's Answer
by National Jewish, Nov 19, 2002 12:00AM
, Nov 19, 2002 12:00AM
Your son could have both Sjogren’s syndrome and sarcoidosis. Sjogren’s Syndrome is a chronic inflammatory condition that causes dryness of the mucous membranes like the eyes and mouth. Sarcoidosis is a disease that causes small clusters of inflammation, called granulomas. The granulomas can occur in any area of the body, but are most common in the lungs, lymph nodes, eyes, and skin.
There is no easy way to rule out lymphoma as a cause of the hilar lymph node enlargement. If this is sarcoidosis, it is unlikely that there will be further enlargement of the nodes. If this is lymphoma, there probably will be further enlargement of the nodes. You must discuss your question of a safe period of watchful waiting with your son’s doctors.
If a biopsy is to be done, he should have a CT scan done to see if there is any mediastinal lymph node enlargement. He could then have mediastinascopy with biopsy. This is a relatively easy and safe procedure.
There is no easy way to rule out lymphoma as a cause of the hilar lymph node enlargement. If this is sarcoidosis, it is unlikely that there will be further enlargement of the nodes. If this is lymphoma, there probably will be further enlargement of the nodes. You must discuss your question of a safe period of watchful waiting with your son’s doctors.
If a biopsy is to be done, he should have a CT scan done to see if there is any mediastinal lymph node enlargement. He could then have mediastinascopy with biopsy. This is a relatively easy and safe procedure.
