Underarm lymph nodes are part of the uniform of the lymphatic system, which together with the venous drainage system carries adjacent to her organs. With the help of lymphatic organs and tissues get rid of excess fluid How to withdraw excess fluid from the body - all sorts of ways , Products of cellular metabolism, cellular debris, bacteria and altered tumor cells.

Location and Function

Underarm are from 12 to 45 lymph nodes, including:

• from 1 to 10 apical lymph nodes lymph nodes - They are located at the top of the armpit and have a connection with the rest of the axillary lymph nodes, breast, subcutaneous lymphatic vessels of the upper limb;
• from 2 to 12 central nodes - they are located in the center of axilla and connected to surface lymphatics upper limbs, chest and breast cancer;
• from 1 to 8 lateral lymph nodes - are located at the outer wall of the axilla are associated with superficial and deep lymphatic vessels of the upper limb;
• 1 to 9 thoracic lymph nodes - located near the inner wall of the axilla are associated with the side wall of the thoracic cavity and breast cancer;
• from 1 to 11 subscapular lymph nodes - located near the rear wall of the axilla are associated with the skin and muscles of the shoulder and the side surface of the thorax.

Axillary lymph nodes function is to purify adjacent to her organs and tissues (the chest, breasts and upper extremities) and protect them from infection and abnormal cells rapidly proliferating tumors. When the disease of the organs and tissues of the lymph nodes are working in emergency mode, they are increasing, sometimes inflamed, may be as painful and painless.

Reasons for increase in the lymph nodes under the armpits

Increasing the axillary lymph nodes is often different marker breast disease, including flowing invisibly. The main reasons for the increase axillary lymph nodes are:

inflammation of the mammary gland (mastitis) in the chest and upper extremities; cause inflammation of the lymph nodes Inflammation of the lymph nodes: Causes   is getting infectious agents from the blood or lymph current from the source of inflammation; first lymph node is trying to cope with the infection (and often consults, inflammation attenuated) by the proliferation of lymphoid tissue (reactive inflammation); but sometimes you can not suppress the infection and the inflammatory process begins in the lymph node;

Malignant breast tumors - lymph node tissue grows to destroy the abnormal cancer cells; In most cases, the lymph nodes can not cope with the situation, but if not, the cancer cells grow not only in the mammary gland, but also in the underarm lymph nodes.

How are the lymph nodes under the armpits for inflammatory diseases in the surrounding tissues

In the initial stage of inflammation (e.g. of mastitis) lymph nodes can only increase slightly in size. It is a sign of inflammation of the jet, which says that the lymph node Lymph nodes - what keeps our immune system   actively fighting the infection.

When the inflammatory process advances to the stage of suppuration, the axillary lymph nodes has increased considerably, and if there is redness and swelling of the skin over the lymph node, his tenderness to palpation - it says lymphadenitis, that is, that the inflamed lymph nodes under the armpits.

How are the lymph nodes in the armpit of a malignant tumor surrounding tissue

With this situation, the axillary lymph nodes Axillary lymph nodes - signals about trouble in the mammary glands   also increase. But they are usually tight, elastic and painless. Painful lymph nodes under the arm are at increase of swelling and irritation of the nerve endings located in the lymph nodes.

The reaction of the lymph nodes is very important for early detection of breast cancer, since the disease often develops unnoticed and only enlarged painless lymph nodes may give the impression of a woman has cancer.

Ultrasound lymph nodes in the armpit

Ultrasonography (US) axillary lymph nodes is carried out, usually in combination with other diagnostic methods and research of breast cancer. With this method it is possible to identify the location, size, shape, contours, structure, axillary lymph nodes, the degree of cohesion with the surrounding tissues. Based on ultrasound, we can conclude the presence or absence of a woman breast cancer.

Ultrasound is now the most simple, affordable and informative method for studying the breast and axillary lymph nodes.

If enlarged lymph nodes under the armpits, you should immediately consult a doctor.

Galina Romanenko

Reactive lymphadenitis - an inflammation of the lymph nodes, which is a response to any infectious diseases. Lymph nodes - this is a very important part of the immune system; they were among the first to take the hit when the body penetrate any pathogens.

As a rule, inflammation begins in the lymph nodes of the area that was hit by an infection, such as respiratory diseases are usually inflamed cervical lymph nodes. Sometimes the symptoms of reactive lymphadenitis mistaken for signs of lymphoma, although the disease occurs much less frequently than reactive lymphadenitis.

What are the symptoms of reactive lymphadenitis?

The main symptom of reactive lymphadenitis (which, strictly speaking, is itself a symptom of certain diseases) - is to increase the lymph node or more lymph nodes. Enlarged lymph node Lymph nodes - what keeps our immune system Usually you can find by palpation, and touching it or pressure on it may cause pain. In some cases, however, an inflammation of the lymph nodes is not accompanied by pain. Sometimes redness and increased sensitivity of the skin over the inflamed lymph node.

Depending on what caused the jet lymphadenitis, it can be accompanied by symptoms such as fever, chills, malaise, headache, weakness, drowsiness, runny nose, cough. In rare cases, when there are symptoms such as severe pain in the lymph node enlargement Enlarged lymph nodes - a reason for going to the doctor , Difficulty or rapid breathing, high fever (body temperature above 38.5S), increased heart rate, you should immediately seek medical care.

Causes of reactive lymphadenitis

Reactive lymphadenitis can be caused by bacterial, viral, fungal or parasitic infections. Among its possible causes - a viral upper respiratory tract infections, streptococcal and staphylococcal infections.

By the way, one of the most striking examples of reactive lymphadenitis was observed in cases of bubonic plague Bubonic plague - the least contagious   - They have noted a very strong increase in the lymph nodes in the elbow joint. Large blisters on the skin called bubonic patients, who gave the name of the disease.

Often on where it is showing signs of reactive lymphadenitis, you can set its cause - inflammation usually begins at the source of the infection. For example, when an infection of the scalp can become inflamed and lymph nodes increase, on the back of the neck, and infections of the mouth and the teeth become inflamed lymph nodes, which are located in the area of ​​the jaw, and so on.

Diagnostics

If symptoms of reactive lymphadenitis appeared simultaneously with symptoms typical of acute respiratory infections or flu, your doctor may be limited to a simple inspection, or appoint additional diagnostic procedures. In such cases, the symptoms of the infection within a few days become less pronounced, and one or two weeks later, the patient recovers and the symptoms disappear reactive lymphadenitis. If you suspect a bacterial infection and several other diseases may need a blood test. Finally, in the rare cases where doctors have reason to believe that the inflammation and swelling of the lymph nodes may be due to the formation of tumors can be examined using the following methods:

• Ultrasonography;
• Computed tomography;
• Magnetic resonance imaging;
• Lymph node biopsy. This diagnostic method is that a doctor using a special instrument takes a sample of lymph node tissue, which is then studied in the laboratory. Biopsy in reactive lymphadenitis are very rare.

Treatment

Since reactive lymphadenitis is not an independent disease to cure inflammation of the lymph nodes Inflammation of the lymph nodes - when it comes to infection You need to eliminate its cause. This may be used as various home agents (for example, in the influenza and other viral infections), and antiviral drugs, antibiotics, antifungal agents, and so forth. If after 10-14 days after the start of treatment signs of reactive lymphadenitis stored, or if the inflammation increases, seek medical attention - may have been misdiagnosed, and assigned the wrong treatment.