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I’ve Been Told The Enlarged Lymph Mote Is A Sign Of Either Infection, Injury Or Cancer And Can’t Figure Out For The Life Of Me What Is Going On?
Question: Hello, I am a 64 yr old female in good health, slightly overweight at 195 lbs (carried around middle but otherwise well distributed). I’ve been having a heavy feeling in my pelvis area for a couple of months, with pain in my lower groin area and left to right across my pelvis area just about my pubic hairline. I have previously had a c-section 34 yrs ago, no problems, and have a slight inguinal hernia on my left side that has caused no problems since I learned of it a couple of years ago. I have had genital herpes for 35 years with no current active outbreaks. When my pain worsened a couple of months ago I thought it was just my hernia acting up. It was painful enough about a month ago after walking that I went to the doctor. I have had.CBC done, CA125, pelvic CT with and without contrast, and a transvaginal ultrasound, all clear. I just had a pelvic ultrasound to check my hernia and found I have an enlarged left side inguinal lymph node that is 2.1x 1.9 x .06 and on the right there are three measuring 1.1x1.0x.06, 1.0x.07x.04 and .09x.06x.05. I have no symptoms of any illness, disease or infection or injury, other than my hernia which I was told is not bad. My blood work came back with not one thing out of line, and I have no fever, loss of weight, chills, nothing. My left groin area where the lymph node is has been painful today and is throbbing, and feels better when I am off my feet. Right side is somewhat painful but not nearly as much. I do have some lower back pain which radiates to my top Butt area,and down to my groin and top of thigh. I have been told this is unrelated but not sure I believe that. I have had a recent colonoscopy which had one benign polup, removed. No masses or other issues. Been to my gyno to discuss and they recommend talking with a surgeon to see if a biopsy for lymphoma is needed, but I have zero other symptoms and otherwise feel fine. Gastro dr thought perhaps musculoskeletal. I’m wondering if my herpes is active internally (it goes dormant but never gone) and the lymph node on the left is swelling as it fights the infection. Is that possible? Any other ideas? Thank you for your patience in Reading this. Please feel free to pass me to another doctor if you see fit. I’ve been healthy all my life despite fluctuating weight and have not been working out but do lift things occasionally and also believe my weight plays a part on putting pressure on my groin area. However, I’ve been told the enlarged lymph mote is a sign of either infection, injury or cancer and can’t figure out for the life of me what is going on. Thank you, XXXXXXX 714-813-0142
Brief Answer:
Pleaee see the detalied answer.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
You are very right for your concern regarding the lymph nodes.Many people fear of it and see it as a sign of cancer which is right to some extent.Howe'ver to be honest enlarged lymph nodes are caused much more commonly by other non serious causes then cancer.
Most of enlarge Lymph nodes are causes by local infection , like viral ifection or bacteria. A lot of bacteria and virus can causes it not to name a few.
However as said earlier it can be caused by cancer as wel.In your case where Ct scan , colonscopy, ultraosund and blood work is normal the possibilty of any malignancy remains extremely low.
I think you may have some infection that probably have caused the lymph nodes and the pain.
I would suggest you should wait for some time like 2 weeks and see the lymph nodes again ? If these are persestent or enlarged, then I would suggest you should talk to a surgeon to remove the node and do bispsy to exactly know the cause.
The pain you have also need a evaluation , there can be many causes for it like as said infection ( which also do cause enlarged nodes)which may be chronic like Pelvic inflamatory disease, or even tuberculosis It can also be causes by the hernia pr some times it can refer from your back .For the pain in would advise you should see a gynaecologist. If nothing helps your pain , again removing the node and doing bispsy can help us know the cause.
Hopes I have answered your question. please don't hesitate to ask anything more you want to know in this regards.
kind Regards
Dr Rahman
Pleaee see the detalied answer.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
You are very right for your concern regarding the lymph nodes.Many people fear of it and see it as a sign of cancer which is right to some extent.Howe'ver to be honest enlarged lymph nodes are caused much more commonly by other non serious causes then cancer.
Most of enlarge Lymph nodes are causes by local infection , like viral ifection or bacteria. A lot of bacteria and virus can causes it not to name a few.
However as said earlier it can be caused by cancer as wel.In your case where Ct scan , colonscopy, ultraosund and blood work is normal the possibilty of any malignancy remains extremely low.
I think you may have some infection that probably have caused the lymph nodes and the pain.
I would suggest you should wait for some time like 2 weeks and see the lymph nodes again ? If these are persestent or enlarged, then I would suggest you should talk to a surgeon to remove the node and do bispsy to exactly know the cause.
The pain you have also need a evaluation , there can be many causes for it like as said infection ( which also do cause enlarged nodes)which may be chronic like Pelvic inflamatory disease, or even tuberculosis It can also be causes by the hernia pr some times it can refer from your back .For the pain in would advise you should see a gynaecologist. If nothing helps your pain , again removing the node and doing bispsy can help us know the cause.
Hopes I have answered your question. please don't hesitate to ask anything more you want to know in this regards.
kind Regards
Dr Rahman
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
Thank you for,your response. I would like to as a couple of follow up questions.
1. I will be done with my course of Cipro on Wed and will request a follow up ultrasound.if my left is still the size it was, could I next go to a CT of my inguinal nodes before doing a biopsy?this node is very deep inside me so a FNA test is not logical,I think.however, I have read that removing a deep inguinal node when there are no other symptoms isn’t good either. Would CT of the nodes be a good next step?
Also, with my right side hurting too, is this considered generalized or localized since it is all inguinal nodes?
Last, if this has been hurting for several months, is that more indicative of cancer or less that it’s just now hurting badly enough to be checked out? How do I tell if it’s my hernia hurting?
Thank you
1. I will be done with my course of Cipro on Wed and will request a follow up ultrasound.if my left is still the size it was, could I next go to a CT of my inguinal nodes before doing a biopsy?this node is very deep inside me so a FNA test is not logical,I think.however, I have read that removing a deep inguinal node when there are no other symptoms isn’t good either. Would CT of the nodes be a good next step?
Also, with my right side hurting too, is this considered generalized or localized since it is all inguinal nodes?
Last, if this has been hurting for several months, is that more indicative of cancer or less that it’s just now hurting badly enough to be checked out? How do I tell if it’s my hernia hurting?
Thank you
Brief Answer:
Please see the detailed answer
Detailed Answer:
Hi , great to hear of you .Sorry for getting late .Let me try to answer your questions in order.
1;Generally is lymph nodes which do not look dangerous ( yours do not look dangerous , i would explain it a little later) we can wait for a month before jumping to biopsy . So i would advise we can wait for upto 6 weeks in your case before going for biopsy .Yes CT Scan may be an option to know in more details about the nodes, it may also tell more about the surrounding structures, So yes it may be needed especially if we are going to biopsy it , But this would be decided by your consultant .Some times the ultrasound may be suffecient but CT is superior and can always be though about .
2; No this is not generalized lyphedenopathy , because we call it generalized if there are two or more areas involved . ( for example , if besides inquinal , if another are like axilla is also involved, for generalized it need to be more then two sites ( not attached) involved irrespective of the numbers. So if you dont have l nodes in other are this is not generalized ,, how ever in numbers these are.but site is one.
3;Hurting of lymph nodes do not mean cancer,
Remember that few characters thay may indicate that the l.node is dangerous and may be cancerous includes ,
like generalized lyphedenopathy, weight loss, high grade fever, rapidly increasing size of l.nodes, low blood count, or enlarged liver or spleen,
as you dont have any of the above , i understand this is not cancer . Mostly these are from infection in the pelvis, or like lower limbs. I cannot say if the hernia is the cause of the pain ,or some the l.nodes or some infection is causing it, this would need examination ,and ct scan may have a role here .
Hopes it is clear, Do not hesitate to ask more if you need things to know. I would be very pleased to answer .
Good luck
Please see the detailed answer
Detailed Answer:
Hi , great to hear of you .Sorry for getting late .Let me try to answer your questions in order.
1;Generally is lymph nodes which do not look dangerous ( yours do not look dangerous , i would explain it a little later) we can wait for a month before jumping to biopsy . So i would advise we can wait for upto 6 weeks in your case before going for biopsy .Yes CT Scan may be an option to know in more details about the nodes, it may also tell more about the surrounding structures, So yes it may be needed especially if we are going to biopsy it , But this would be decided by your consultant .Some times the ultrasound may be suffecient but CT is superior and can always be though about .
2; No this is not generalized lyphedenopathy , because we call it generalized if there are two or more areas involved . ( for example , if besides inquinal , if another are like axilla is also involved, for generalized it need to be more then two sites ( not attached) involved irrespective of the numbers. So if you dont have l nodes in other are this is not generalized ,, how ever in numbers these are.but site is one.
3;Hurting of lymph nodes do not mean cancer,
Remember that few characters thay may indicate that the l.node is dangerous and may be cancerous includes ,
like generalized lyphedenopathy, weight loss, high grade fever, rapidly increasing size of l.nodes, low blood count, or enlarged liver or spleen,
as you dont have any of the above , i understand this is not cancer . Mostly these are from infection in the pelvis, or like lower limbs. I cannot say if the hernia is the cause of the pain ,or some the l.nodes or some infection is causing it, this would need examination ,and ct scan may have a role here .
Hopes it is clear, Do not hesitate to ask more if you need things to know. I would be very pleased to answer .
Good luck
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
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