Painful swelling | Swollen lymph nodes on the collarbone

Painful swelling

Painful swelling of the lymph nodes on the collarbone is an indication of lymphoma. Even if the pain does not completely rule out the malignant disease, reactive swellings are the main focus of treatment. Lymph node swelling is not uncommon, especially when flu-like symptoms, difficulty swallowing and signs of illness are added. Until the infection subsides, no further examination of the lymph nodes is usually necessary.

Sentinel lymph node

Sentinel lymph nodes refer to the so-called “sentinel lymph node“. Every organ and drainage area of the body has such sentinel lymph nodes, which are the first to come into contact with the lymph fluid there. The sentinel lymph node is particularly important in cancer diagnostics, as it can be examined for cancer spreading into the lymphatic system. If the sentinel lymph node is affected by cancer cells, both cancer therapy and the prognosis of the disease change.

Reference to breast cancer

In the course of breast cancer diagnostics, tissue samples are also taken from the lymph nodes located in the drainage area of the breast gland. In these cases the lymph nodes of the armpits are affected first. In the therapy of breast cancer, these are often completely removed to prevent a possible spread of the malignant cells.

Lymph node swelling on the collarbone can also occur in the context of breast cancer. With the help of a tissue sample, it can be determined whether the swollen lymph nodes are metastases of breast cancer.