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Enlarged Lymph Gland Surgery In A Nutshell
Surgery for enlarged lymph glands is lymph node biopsy. It is a simple outpatient procedure where your surgeon can take a sample from your lymph node or remove your entire lymph node. After the lymph node is removed, it may be tested if you have infection, cancer or other medical concerns. The results of the tests can aid your surgeon to decide if you need further tests or suitable treatments.
There are three main types of surgery for enlarged lymph glands, needle biopsy, open biopsy and sentinel biopsy. (refer to ‘what to expect during the procedure’)
Lymph glands, also known as lymph nodes, are small, oval-shaped organs located throughout your body.They carry lymph fluid, nutrients and waste materials between your body’s tissues and the bloodstream.Lymph nodes are regional and each group corresponds to a particular region in your body and reflects abnormalities in that region. Lymph glands are not usually visible or palpable.
Lymph glands form part of your body’s immune system. Lymph glands enable your body to recognise and fight infections. Lymph nodes filter lymph fluid as it flows through and trap bacteria, viruses and foreign substances. By containing white blood cells, these pathogens are destroyed by the white blood cells, thus helping the body to defend against diseases.
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Lymph glands only get enlarged or swollen in response to an infection in your body, and usually go down when you recover. However, sometimes they may be caused by more serious problems and need to be checked by your doctor.
These glands may swell up to more than a few centimetres as a response to infection or disease. They are commonly felt under the chin or in the neck, underarms or groin area where they are found in larger groups.
Enlarged lymph glands are caused by a viral infection such as the common cold in most cases.
Other common causes of enlarged or swollen lymph glands may include:
Less common causes include:
Enlarged lymph glands may also be caused by cancer. The uncontrolled division of lymphocytes in lymphoma or leukaemia results in masses of cells that form a malignant tumour.
Common symptoms include:
Do take note especially if the enlarged lymph glands do not shrink in a few weeks or gradually get bigger, do not cause pain, are firm or hard to the touch or occur along with other symptoms such as a fever, night sweats and unintentional weight loss. Lymph nodes in these cases are more likely to be caused by cancer.
Your doctor will perform a physical examination to check the size, tenderness, warmth and texture of the lymph nodes close to the surface of your skin. He or she will ask you the symptoms that you are experiencing. The location of the enlarged lymph node and your symptoms will help your doctor find out the underlying cause of the enlarged lymph nodes.
You may be scheduled for further tests such as:
Surgery for enlarged lymph node in the form of a lymph node biopsy enables your doctor to find out the underlying cause and tailor the appropriate treatment for your condition.
Should an abscess (infection) be present, the collection of pus may be drained by cutting open your skin,draining the infected fluids and packing the wound. This clears your infection.
For enlarged lymph glands caused by cancer or malignancy, surgical treatment to remove the entire lymph node may be done as part of a larger surgery for cancer removal. This will be accompanied by chemotherapy or radiotherapy to shrink the cancer cells and stop the growth of cancer.
Enlarged lymph glands that do not return to normal size on their own are a cause for concern.
The results of the biopsy will help your surgeon find the exact cause of the swelling and enable him to decide on further tests and treatments. Normal test results on the lymph node removed mean that surrounding lymph nodes are probably normal as well. Abnormal test results, meanwhile, may indicate infection, inflammation, HIV or cancer. Many cancers are linked to swollen lymph nodes which makes it especially crucial for a biopsy to be carried out to test for signs of cancer. Lymph node removal for cancer removes the cancer completely and prevents the cancer from spreading to nearby lymph nodes.
Before the procedure
During the procedure
In needle biopsy:
In open biopsy:
Sentinel biopsy is performed for those with cancer to see if your cancer is likely to spread.
After the procedure
G&L Surgical Clinic will do our best to provide you with an estimate of your out-of-pocket expenses before your procedure. With a comprehensive financing service, we endeavour to assist you in finding the most suitable financing option to enjoy a seamless and pleasant experience. Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions. We are here to help you get the care you need.
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