what they mean for better or worse

What are lymph nodes?

Mom wasn’t wrong to judge illness this way, and neither are you. The size of your lymph nodes is a good indicator that your body is fighting something.

“The lymph nodes are like barracks where the soldiers come to stay when there’s a war on,” says Adam L. Church, MD, an emergency medicine physician at CityMD. “They swell up when you have infections.”

What is the function of lymph nodes?

The lymph nodes make up the larger lymph system, which Dr. Church says is critical to the immune response. The kidney-shaped glands produce lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell that helps the body fight infections.

Where are the lymph nodes?

The human body has hundreds of lymph nodes, but they cluster together in certain parts of the body. The areas where lymph nodes can be most easily felt include the head and neck, armpits, under the jaw, around the collarbone, along the forearm, and in the groin.

What is localized lymphadenopathy?

Lymphadenopathy is the clinical term for swollen lymph nodes. Patients can develop lymph node swelling in one area (localized) or all over the body (generalized). When lymph nodes swell physicians can use history and physical exam clues to figure out what is wrong, explains Dr. Church.

Localized swelling of the lymph nodes in one area is typical for acute infections. Dr. Church says most of the patients he sees in an urgent care setting come in with swollen lymph nodes under the jaw and in the neck. Generally, these individuals have viruses or infections like the flu, tonsillitis, strep throat, mononucleosis, Rubella, Kawasaki disease, or viral pharyngitis.

What is generalized lymphadenopathy?

Generalized lymphadenopathy means the lymph nodes are swollen all over the body instead of being limited to one area. This is often a sign of a systemic infection or an autoimmune condition. Some chronic conditions and medications can also cause and lymphadenopathy.

“When someone comes in with new lymphadenopathy in many parts of their body, we look for an underlying cause such as infection, mono, monkeypox, HIV, or STIs,” says Dr. Church. “Lymphadenopathy in general points out that the immune system is on high alert.” Large, painless lymph nodes can have a more serious meaning.

What happens when your lymph nodes are swollen?

With both localized and generalized swollen lymph nodes, a workup begins with a physical exam and health history that includes discussion about occupation and lifestyle. Based on these findings, Dr. Church may also order blood work or a chest X-ray.

“A good patient history leads you down the road to making a diagnosis,” he adds. For example, if you travel frequently, interact with animals, or work outside, these situations can result in various illnesses that activate your lymph nodes such as Lyme disease, Tularemia, or malaria. If Dr. Church finds something more serious than a simple virus or bacterial infection, he refers the patient to a specialist.

When should you pay closer attention to swollen lymph nodes?

Your lymph nodes offer clues about what is going on inside your body. “When the lymph nodes are large, firm, and present for a long time — instead of new or painful — that’s not good,” explains Dr. Church. Here are some signs to look out for:

• Pain. Tender lymph nodes are usually a good sign: Lymph nodes hurt because they are part of the body’s surveillance system. “When lymph nodes are painful, it means they’re doing their job fighting infection,” he says. “They become painful because they expand quickly and the tissue doesn’t have a chance to relax.”
• Texture. The way a lymph node feels to touch can also give an indication about what is going on. Hard nodes may indicate chronic inflammation or cancer. Firm, rubbery nodes can represent lymphoma or leukemia.
• Size. The larger the lymph node, the more cause for alarm. Small lymph nodes are less concerning. Large, painful lymph nodes are indicative of acute infection. On the other hand, large, hard, non-tender lymph nodes are often warning signs of cancers like lymphoma or leukemia.

“Know where your lymph nodes are and what’s normal for your body,” says Dr. Church. “Monitor them, so that when they change — as they will, because they should in defense of your health — you’ll understand why and when to go see your physician.”

Swollen Glands – Trinity Medical Associates

“I’ve got this gland in my neck that’s all swollen.  I just noticed it shaving a few days ago and I don’t have any idea how long it’s been there.  What the heck do you think it is?”  Danny, a man in his 30’s had that deer-in-the-headlights look in his eyes.  He was obviously thinking the worst, having Googled the possibilities.

Commonly referred to as “swollen glands,” enlarged lymph nodes can show up as small lumps (from BB sized to a couple inches across) at many locations, including all around the neck, under the arms, at the elbows, in the groin, as well as inside the abdomen and chest.

Lymph nodes are a normal part of our anatomy consisting of groupings of cells that help filter the lymph and produce immune cells to fight infection.  Of course not all lumps are swollen lymph nodes.  Some turn out to be salivary glands, lipomas (benign fatty growths), cysts and a number of other common entities.  So when a new lump is noticed, the first distinction to be made is whether it is a lymph node or one of these other entities.

If the lump is indeed a lymph node, the question is then whether this is a normal reactive lymph node or something more serious.  Reactive lymph nodes are simply lymph nodes that have enlarged due to fighting some infection or inflammation.  For example a child with an ear infection will often have enlarged lymph nodes around that ear, someone with Strep throat will have enlarged nodes under the angle of the jaw, and a person with eczema or similar scalp condition may have enlarged nodes at the base of the skull.  Likewise if someone has an infected finger they may get enlarged lymph nodes in the elbow and axilla (underarm) on that side.   Other conditions such as mononucleosis can enlarge lymph nodes in many locations at once.

But the reason enlarged lymph nodes get the attention they do is that a very small percentage of them can be a red flag alerting us to something much more serious.  Lymphomas, leukemias and other cancers can produce enlarged lymph nodes as well.

So what are the clues that a swollen lymph node is one of these bad guys vs. just a reactive lymph node doing its job?  No one feature is full proof.  But certain locations, such as a swollen node just above your collar bone, are more worrisome than, for example, one in the groin.

The growth trend of the lymph node also matters.  A reactive node tends to enlarge fairly quickly and then starts to shrink after the inciting infection goes away.  On the other hand, a cancerous lymph node almost never shrinks without treatment of the cancer.  So even if a swollen node doesn’t totally go away, if it shrinks considerably that’s a reassuring sign.

As to what they feel like, reactive nodes tend to be smooth, mobile, and sometimes tender whereas a cancerous node is more likely to be very hard, stuck to the underlying tissues and not sore or tender to push on.

Other red flags would be the presence of other symptoms when the enlarged lymph nodes show up.  Symptoms like night sweats, unexplained weight loss, or localized pain near the lymph nodes can be concerning.

So what do you do if you find a lump?  You could reasonably watch it for a while if you don’t have any of the red flag symptoms and feel like it fits with being a reactive lymph node.  But if it persists or continues to grow it would be best to have it checked out.  A physical exam, blood work and sometimes a trial of antibiotics followed by rechecking the node a couple weeks later can be adequate follow up if the node is shrinking.  If not, imaging such as x-ray, ultrasound, MRI or CT scan, and possibly biopsy of the lymph node may be needed.

But keep in mind the odds are very much in your favor if you get a swollen lymph node.   We see hundreds and hundreds, if not thousands of normal reactive lymph nodes for every one bad guy cancerous node we see.  At the same time we don’t want to miss that one bad guy.  So if you’ve got a suspicious lump, get it checked out.

Treatment of salivary glands | Dentistry Beskudnikovo

Salivary glands are glands in the mouth that secrete saliva. A person has 4 pairs of large salivary glands, as well as numerous small salivary glands. The penetration of a bacterial infection into the body can provoke inflammatory diseases of the glands. Also, doctors are faced with their cysts, benign and malignant neoplasms. Any pathology of the salivary glands needs treatment.

Diseases of the salivary glands: symptoms and causes

Diseases of the salivary glands are divided into inflammatory and non-inflammatory. Inflammatory include acute or chronic sialadenitis. To non-inflammatory – cysts and tumor-like diseases.

Sialadenitis

Sialadenitis is an inflammation of the salivary glands of a viral or bacterial nature.

Symptoms of the disease: painful enlargement and swelling of the glands, discharge of pus, deterioration of health.

The cause of the disease is the defeat of the glands by viruses or bacteria. It can be streptococci, staphylococci, anaerobic bacteria. Sialadenitis often accompanies diseases such as influenza, tracheitis, periodontitis, conjunctivitis, Coxsackie virus.

Cysts of the salivary glands

Cysts of the salivary glands are cavity formations filled with liquid contents and resulting from blockage of their ducts. They can be localized in the floor of the mouth, in the submandibular region, in the preauricular fossa (a small depression behind the ear). Cysts of the minor salivary glands form on the mucous membrane of the lower lip or cheeks.

The main reasons for the development of cysts are: inflammatory processes, salivary stone disease, mechanical trauma to the gland, compression of the gland by a tumor.

Tumors of the salivary glands

Tumors of the salivary glands are benign and malignant neoplasms emanating from the minor salivary glands. The main symptoms: the formation of a seal in the area of ​​​​damage to the gland, which increases over time. If the tumor is malignant – pain, paralysis of the facial nerve, soft tissue damage.

The exact causes of tumors of the salivary glands have not been identified. Inflammatory diseases of the glands, infection with oncogenic viruses, hormonal factors, employment in hazardous industries predispose to the development of oncology.

Diagnostics

Diagnostic studies include external and instrumental examination. It is necessary to differentiate diseases of the salivary glands from diseases that have similar symptoms: lymphadenitis, tumors of the oral cavity, perimaxillary phlegmon, infectious mononucleosis. For this, ultrasound of the salivary glands is performed, sialography is an x-ray of the salivary glands. If a malignant process is suspected, a biopsy with subsequent histological examination is necessary.

Treatment

Tactics of treatment of salivary glands depends on the causes of the disease.

Treatment of sialadenitis

Treatment of sialadenitis is carried out with antibacterial and antiviral drugs. Medicines are taken orally. In severe forms of inflammation, antibiotic injections can be injected directly into the duct of the gland. Antiviral agents are also used for local irrigation of the oral cavity. With the development of a purulent process, it is necessary to open the abscess, provide drainage and sanitation of the wound.

If the inflammatory process is accompanied by the appearance of stones in the ducts, the doctor performs bougienage (expansion of the duct to facilitate the passage of stones).

Chronic sialadenitis requires physiotherapy: electrophoresis, UHF therapy. Physiotherapy procedures help relieve inflammation and accelerate tissue regeneration.

Treatment of salivary gland cysts

Conservative treatment of cysts, as a rule, does not bring results. Patients are shown surgical treatment. Depending on the location of the cyst, the surgeon provides intraoral or extraoral access to it.

Cysts of minor salivary glands are husked using local anesthesia. Cysts of large salivary glands are to be removed along with the gland. This ensures that there is no risk of recurrence of the disease.

Treatment of tumors of the salivary glands

Benign tumors are subject to surgical removal along with the gland. After surgery, it is necessary to conduct a histological examination to confirm the benign nature of the neoplasm. The operation to remove a tumor of the salivary gland requires careful visual control and professionalism of the doctor, since it is associated with the risk of damage to the facial nerve.

Treatment of malignant tumors is carried out surgically, at the same time, nearby lymph nodes are removed. Radiation therapy is also performed. The risk of recurrence depends on a combination of several factors: the stage at which the malignant process was detected, the age of the patient, and the presence of concomitant diseases.

Prophylaxis

Prevention of diseases of the salivary glands is to maintain oral hygiene. This will reduce the risk of developing inflammatory processes and their consequences.

Oncological induration in a cat, wen and bumps in cats and dogs. Hernias. How to distinguish from a tumor?

Foreword: we know enough about tumors to be able to fight them successfully.

But in the text we make the material as easy as possible, avoiding scientific formulations and special terms. Please attribute this to the author’s stylistic decision…

A timely visit to a doctor can give life to your pet!

Despite the fact that a bump in a cat on the stomach can have various causes, most often the result of the diagnosis shows mastopathy or a tumor of the mammary glands. Both diseases can be considered cause for concern about your pet and give every reason to visit the veterinarian. Cones in cats can differ both in the origins of their occurrence and in the process of further modification.

Mastopathy

Mastopathy can be attributed to benign subcutaneous formations that can occur in the mammary gland of a cat and bring her discomfort, up to pain. Subcutaneous bumps appear in the mammary gland. Although it is completely possible that the mammary gland may increase for another reason. For example, the mammary gland can increase during pregnancy. It is noteworthy that the mammary gland during false pregnancy can not only swell, but also secrete some milk. But within a short time everything should return to normal.

Mastopathy is a permanent pathological transformation in the tissues of the mammary gland. In them, the appearance of neoplasms, as well as other abnormal processes, is observed. Formations in the form of bumps in the mammary gland can be felt during palpation. By nature, they are soft and slightly elastic. Mastopathy in dogs cannot be classified as an oncological disease, but it can be a harbinger of such a disease. Cats older than 6-7 years are most predisposed to mastopathy.

There are two forms of mastopathy in cats:

• Diffuse mastopathy. The first call of this form is the appearance of pain in the mammary gland shortly before estrus. On palpation in the chest, you can feel a formation similar to a bag of shot. The diffuse form may be a precursor to the fibrocystic form.
• Fibrocystic mastopathy. In the mammary gland, compacted painful nodules are formed, which have a tendency to grow. Cones on the chest can be either single or multiple, but are always easily determined by palpation. Most often, this diagnosis is made in cats over the age of 6 years.

Cystic-fibrinous mastopathy of a pronounced generalized form. All mammary glands are involved in the process.

In order to recognize mastopathy in time, you need to carefully look at the following symptoms:

1. Noticeable enlargement of the mammary glands. When probing, you can notice the granularity, lobulation or sinewiness.
2. Various pathological secretions from the gland may appear: blood, ichor or colostrum.
3. The cat may experience pain. At the same time, she will try to lick the glands and will be restless. It is difficult to notice any deviations from the norm, because education can remain the same size for a long time. The dimensions of the nodule can change only in the case of false or normal pregnancy.
4. If treatment is not started on time, then the general condition of the dog deteriorates sharply. He may refuse to eat, but increase his need for water. In behavior, apathy is clearly traced. Nearby lymph nodes may grow noticeably. Perhaps the appearance of ulcers and suppuration.

   With further inactivity, the process switches to adjacent tissues. At the same time, the skin of the animal in this area becomes too hot and may even lose hair.

It is very important to recognize the stage at which mastopathy is located. In the early stages, the use of homeopathic remedies and diet is sufficient. The diffuse form can be cured with hormonal drugs and antibiotics.

Hormonal disorders and breast cancer

The second reason for the formation of lumps in a dog may be the development of a tumor in the mammary gland. Unlike mastopathy, tumors usually have focal localization. There are several causes of breast cancer. But the main suggestive factors are the following:
– constantly recurring estrus
– prolonged absence of mating in the reproductive period
– hereditary factor
– long-term use of hormonal drugs

Tumors on the mammary glands can be both benign and malignant. But the percentage of benign formations is very small. So, 9out of 10 neoplasms on the mammary glands in cats – cancer. Tumors are easy to detect, just by probing the surface of the mammary glands. You may notice the appearance of seals in the dog and nodules, which can increase in size if no action is taken. As a result, the tumor can grow and turn into a malignant pathological form.

At first, the tumor is usually quite small and rarely enlarges, but the tumor can abruptly move into the first stage of the disease after false pregnancy. The number and size of the bumps may increase, and the surface becomes bumpy.

According to statistics, the most common cause of death of most animals in the second half of life is oncology in cats and dogs . It firmly holds the second place among the causes of general mortality. However, as in humans, if a tumor and induration are detected in a cat in a timely manner, then surgical treatment in the early stages usually leads to a complete recovery. If you do not turn to a veterinarian for help in time, the tumor will grow and give complications. It will be possible to note an increase in lymph nodes. At the last stage, the tumor metastasizes to other organs. At this stage of the disease, the prognosis is unfavorable with any type of treatment.

Frequently asked questions to the veterinarian

If a cat has a small and solitary lump near the nipple, should it be taken to the veterinarian?
Naturally. Even the smallest neoplasm can become the beginning of a malignant tumor. It is easiest to take action at the beginning of the disease.

If the mammary gland is swollen over the entire surface, but the cat feels well and eats, is it worth worrying? Swelling may be a sign of an unfavorable process. To find out exactly the nature of the process, you need to contact a veterinary clinic.

The cat has lumps all over the mammary gland. The doctor suggested removing the entire gland. Is it dangerous for a dog?
There are no simple operations. Especially oncology. The intervention proposed to you must be carried out by a veterinarian experienced in such interventions. After the operation, a histological examination is mandatory. And, if necessary, adjuvant chemotherapy.

Incipient breast tumor.

Advanced breast tumor.

9000 2 As soon as a bump in a cat or dog has been detected, or in the case of indirect signs that allow us to suspect an oncological disease, we recommend that you contact your veterinarian without the slightest delay.

Unfortunately, this problem cannot be solved at home. We have all the necessary conditions for examination and treatment cancer in dogs and cats.

Breast tumor. Despite its small size, this is already a running case. Metastases.

900 02

Wen in dogs and cats

Wen appear as bumps and lumps on the surface of the skin. But at the same time, wen are exclusively benign neoplasms and can even disappear on their own, with the optimization of the animal’s feeding regimen and the normalization of lipid metabolism.
But how to determine what kind of seal it is – a wen or maybe cancer? The answer to this question can only be given by a veterinary specialist at an appointment at a veterinary clinic. Often, for the final verdict, such diagnostic methods are used as: ultrasound, x-ray, biopsy.
Before we remove the wen in dogs and cats, we conduct a complete examination of the animal. This allows you to accurately determine the location and origin of the neoplasm, and successfully remove it during the subsequent surgical intervention.
If earlier oncology was the most common cause of euthanasia of animals, now this can be avoided by treating bumps in a cat or dog through radical surgical actions.

We successfully carry out operations to remove bumps in dogs and cats, which are often refused in other clinics. Unfortunately, we cannot give full guarantees for the cure of animals from serious diseases associated with the development of cancer in cats and dogs .

But remember – a timely visit to a doctor is already a big step towards healing.
Don’t try to ignore the problem. And don’t self-diagnose. Contact us. And we will definitely help you!

Hernias in dogs and cats.

Umbilical hernias, for example, can also look like a lump on the surface of the abdomen. How can they be distinguished from tumors? This, as usual, is not a difficult task. Most hernias are located in their “natural” places. Umbilical – in the navel. Inguinal – respectively in the inguinal region, etc. There are, of course, hernias of the abdominal wall that look like a bump, but they, as a rule, do not present any difficulties in diagnosis. If clarifying studies are required, then ultrasound is usually sufficient.
Whether to repair a hernia promptly – the attending physician decides. If the hernia is sliding with the threat of expansion of the hernial ring and infringement, the operation is mandatory.

Umbilical hernia

Salivary duct adenoma (benign tumor).

Foot mastocytoma (tumor of initial malignancy).

Soft tissue sarcoma (malignant tumor).

View of the limb after wide excision of soft tissue sarcoma on the thigh. Only such traumatic surgical techniques and aggressive chemotherapy can somehow fight this type of tumor.

Lump on the eye on the third eyelid. It’s not a tumor at all. This is a prolapse of the lacrimal gland. It is treated with a surgical operation, by sewing the gland back into its anatomical place.

Inadequately resected mammary tumor in a cat. In a third-party clinic, a local removal of a tumor on the lower mammary gland was performed. Soon a new growth began in the contact area. It can be seen that the tumor began to grow immediately after the place where the suture ends.
Tumors of the mammary glands in cats are characterized by extreme aggressiveness and quickly metastasize to neighboring glands through the ducts, as well as by the lymphogenous or hematogenous route. Therefore, even if a single outbreak occurs, the entire ridge should be removed at once. Local deletions are not effective.

Fibroma on the shoulder blade of a cat. The degree of malignancy can be different. Determined histologically.

Decaying breast tumor. Extremely neglected situation!

Osteosarcoma. An extremely aggressive, actively metastasizing tumor that destroys bones and everything around.