When a person has inflamed lymph nodes of the root of the lung, it means that inflammatory processes occur in the body. The reaction from these organs indicates infections, as well as tumors in which lymph is collected. If there is inflammation of the lymph nodes in the lungs, or in the mediastinal complex, then the person has a violation in the chest area. The sooner you diagnose and prescribe treatment, the greater the chance of a full recovery without the slightest consequences. The normal size of the lymph node in a person is not more than 1 cm.
Epidemiology
At the moment, it is impossible to say how often the problem with lymph nodes occurs in lung pathology, since there are no statistics data. However, in childhood, this problem occurs in almost 40% of cases. In pediatrics, this problem is one of the most common.
If we talk about malignant causes, then with age, the risk of such a problem is quite large. By the age of 18-35, a problem is diagnosed in 20% of patients. Enlarged nodes in the chest due to tumors occur in 30% of cases, and in other diseases - about 25%. Next, consider why the lymph nodes in the lungs become inflamed.
Causes of inflammation
In the lymphatic capillaries, tissue fluid accumulates, as well as those substances that remain after metabolism in the cells. That is how lymph is formed. Outflow is carried out using vessels that pass through the described nodes. Due to their existence, foreign particles are "filtered" in the body, which are subsequently excreted from the body.
Lymph nodes become inflamed for some reason, which we describe below:
- Lymphadenitis It is an inflammation of a bacterial, viral or aseptic nature. If there is any infectious process in the pulmonary system, the lymph nodes in the lungs will certainly become inflamed. When viruses and bacteria enter the bronchi or mucous membrane, the mediators on the surface become inflamed. As a result, blood flow increases, respectively, the lymph nodes increase in size.
- Lymphadenopathy We are talking about non-inflammatory problems. Often the problem with enlarged lymph nodes in the lungs begins with the presence of various kinds of tumors in the body and with metastatic damage. Inflamed nodes due to the spread of lymphoid tissue of an atypical nature.
If the immune system responds correctly to a stimulus, then a person's lymph nodes become inflamed. Together with blood, leukocytes enter the site of the lesion. They kill the pathogen and destroy damaged cells. If infectious agents become weak in the body, then in a person they begin to split in the lymph nodes. Therefore, the latter become inflamed. Thanks to the tissue in the nodes, the inflammatory process does not develop further.
Description of lymphadenopathy
This condition is accompanied by an increase in nodes in the pleura. An extensive number of reasons and factors can cause it.
As mentioned above, 1 cm is the norm for the lymph nodes in the body of each person.
The disease can be of a different nature: tumor and non-tumor. Next, we consider three main options for the first type of disease, since lung cancer with metastases to the lymph nodes most often causes their increase.
Lymphoma
Under this name, several cancers are hidden at once, which cover the lymphatic system as a whole. With the disease, one large tumor forms, and its metastases spread throughout the body. Among the symptoms, pain in the head, in the muscles and joints should be highlighted, the temperature can also rise. Metastases enter the lungs and lymph nodes. The result is a dry type cough, chest pain, shortness of breath. Over time, if you do not start treatment and stop the manifestations, the patient will have pain in the heart. The forecast is unfavorable. Even with timely treatment after diagnosis, patients rarely live more than five years.
Lymphocytic leukemia
Previously, this disease was most often found in children, since according to statistics, lymphocytic leukemia was diagnosed in children 2-4 years old. However, to date, the situation has changed, adults suffer from this disease. A person's appetite decreases, weakness and pain in the lungs appear. Over time, anemia appears, breathing problems occur, and the heart hurts. Without treatment, the patient is unlikely to live for more than three years; with treatment, a stable remission lasting more than 10 years can be achieved. It should be noted that cancer of the lymph nodes of the lungs is a common cause of their inflammation.
Metastatic lesion
This problem occurs due to cancer inflammation that affects or localizes near the lungs. Such should be noted problems with the esophagus, the lungs themselves, the stomach, the colon or the chest. You need to understand that if the problem has already reached the lymph nodes, then the cancer is already at stages 3-4. Accordingly, the prognosis in any case will be unfavorable, and treatment of enlarged lymph nodes in the lungs will be difficult and, most likely, ineffective.
Diseases as a cause of nodes
Enlarged lymph nodes are most often a symptom of a disease. This is considered a normal protective reaction from the immune system. Consider the most popular reasons.
- Pleurisy. It is characterized by inflammation of the pleura, it is the serous membrane. It is located in the chest cavity. If the disease is not cured in time, then abscesses may develop.
- Pulmonary tuberculosis. As a rule, the disease is characterized by inflammation of the lymphatic vessels and, accordingly, of the nodes.
- Pneumonia. A disease in which the lungs become inflamed. Depending on where the focus of inflammation is located, certain groups of lymph nodes are affected.
- Bronchitis. As a rule, the lymph nodes in the lungs become inflamed in the case of both acute and chronic.
- Malignant neoplasms. When cancer cells enter the lymph nodes through blood vessels, inflammation occurs.
- Lymphogranulomatosis. This pathology is of oncological nature. Affects primarily the lymph nodes. This problem is characterized by inflammation of all groups of nodes in the body.
- Viral hepatitis. With the development of hepatitis C in humans, severe symptoms begin. The inflammatory process affects completely the whole body. In addition to enlarged lymph nodes, the patient develops weakness and a headache.
- Sarcoidosis Granulomas form in the lungs, these are the foci of inflammation. At the first stage, there is only one manifestation: enlarged lymph nodes. With progression, fever (up to 37.5 degrees), cough, chest pain, lack of appetite and headache are added.
- AIDS virus. Enlarged lymph nodes in the lungs are one of the manifestations that happens in every second HIV patient.
Medical reasons
Also, lymphadenopathy of the lungs can occur when taking drugs that affect the state of the lymphatic system as a whole. Among these tools, the following should be noted:
- Antibiotics. Most drugs cause an increase in lymph nodes, so they should be prescribed carefully, especially if a person has low immunity.
- Antihypertensive drugs. Such drugs are necessary to lower blood pressure. Their side effect is the described symptom.
- Antimetabolites. These drugs are necessary in order to stop the biochemical processes in the body. Especially often they are prescribed if the patient has a malignant formation at the initial stage.
If the lymph nodes in the lungs are enlarged, the cause will be difficult to establish, but this must be done quickly to avoid consequences. If such a drug was taken, then the dosage should be reduced or replaced with an analog.
Symptomatology
If a person has a pathology associated with the lungs, then with inflammation of the lymph nodes, the following symptoms appear.
- The temperature rises to 40 degrees for infectious diseases, to 37.5 for chronic inflammations and tumors.
- The appearance of chest pain. This is due to the fact that the nerve endings begin to compress. Also, the cause of this effect may be the collapse of the tissues of the node in the presence of a tumor, or the stretching of the capsule. Where exactly the pain will be located and how strong it will be, completely depends on the focus.
- Respiratory problems, development of dyspnea. If the lymph node enlarges in the chest, then the patient always complains of difficulties when inhaling or exhaling, there may be a feeling of lack of air and squeezing.
- Problems with swallowing, the so-called dysphagia. It occurs only when a person has lymph nodes in the lungs that are too much enlarged. In this case, they squeeze the esophagus, and it is difficult for a person to swallow.
- A throbbing vein in the neck is one of the symptoms. It is characteristic of the stage of the disease when the main vessels are already involved in the inflammatory process. This symptom occurs when the outflow of blood is disturbed.
Diagnostics
If a person has symptoms of a different nature, as well as intensity, then a differential diagnosis should be made. This is done in order to understand how serious the situation is and how many body structures are involved in the process. Further we consider all possible diagnostic measures.
- General blood analysis. It is done to detect elevated levels of white blood cells, as well as the speed of red blood cells. These indicators can make it clear whether there is inflammation in the body.
- Chest x-ray. It is made in two projections: straight and lateral. Thanks to this diagnostic measure, one can see the presence of pathological changes, as well as how much lymph nodes in the lungs are involved in the process.
- Computed tomography allows you to understand the exact location and size of the lesions, especially when it comes to the mediastinum.
- Puncture biopsy. It is carried out if the above diagnostic methods have not yielded any results. Most often they do it when there is a suspicion of oncology.
Which doctor should I go to?
Keep in mind:
- If a person has bronchitis, pleurisy and other pulmonary diseases of an easy form, then the therapist and pulmonologist will deal with the treatment. Therapy is a conservative option. With these diseases and enlarged lymph nodes in the lungs, the treatment is easy.
- Pneumonia or pleurisy with complications is treated by a surgeon. It should also be addressed with purulent lymphadenitis.
- An oncologist should treat lymphomas, lymphogranulomatosis and other oncological problems.
- If problems with the lymph nodes appeared due to tuberculosis, then you should contact a TB doctor.
Principles for the treatment of lymphadenitis and lymphadenopathy
Treatment for enlarged lymph nodes depends entirely on the cause of the problem. Consider the treatment methods for any primary diseases:
- With bronchitis and pneumonia, antibiotic therapy is performed. Antitussive drugs are prescribed, expectorant and antipyretic, if necessary.
- During the development of tuberculosis, the doctor prescribes a long course of treatment with antimycobacterial agents.
- With lymphogranulomatosis, chemotherapy is prescribed to reduce pressure on the lymph nodes of the mediastinal lung.
- If the patient has tumors, then first they are removed, then chemotherapy and radiation therapy are carried out.
Tumor Treatment
If the enlargement of the nodes is caused by tumors, then the following methods of therapy should be used:
- Immunotherapy. Thanks to her, the protective functions of the body increase, and he begins to intensely fight the disease.
- Radiation therapy. This method allows you to destroy all cancer cells due to radiation. This therapy is carried out with caution, as it has its consequences on the whole body.
- Operation. With indications, the tumor and all affected parts can be removed.
- Symptomatic measures. Such therapy is carried out in order to get rid of the manifestations.
It must be remembered that when the cancer begins to recede, the lymph nodes in the lungs will return to normal.
Complications and consequences
As a rule, all the ensuing complications are associated in most cases with the underlying disease. Among these, it should be noted an abscess and phlegmon, fistulas and so on.
If the lymph nodes in the lungs and in the mediastinum are enlarged, then obstructions of a different nature, impaired blood flow and problems with the esophagus can occur. Sometimes pathology leads to pulmonary dysfunction, as well as heart failure. When the tumor process becomes the cause of the enlargement of the nodes, complications arise from the metabolism. Problems begin with the kidneys, blood and electrolyte balance.