Swelling of lymph nodes in the armpit and groin
There are numerous lymph nodes in the armpit and groin. Here the lymph is filtered. Lymph node swelling can have numerous causes and is harmless in many cases and disappears again after a few days.
If there is a lymph node swelling in the armpit area, the cause is often the entry of pathogens via a small skin injury. This can occur, for example, when shaving. The pathogens cause a swelling of the lymph nodes because they work more frequently.
The lymph nodes with such a harmless cause are usually well movable against the surrounding tissue and painful under pressure. Usually the swelling disappears after a few days. A painful lymph node swelling in the armpit usually indicates a current infection.
Painful lymph nodes always tend to be a good sign, as they indicate an acute reaction of the body. In the case of a fresh infection, the lymph nodes swell considerably within a short time, causing the surrounding tissue to stretch. Since nerve fibers run through them, the swelling can then be painful.
Malignant lymph node changes often grow rather slowly. The tissue then has time to adapt to the enlargement of the lymph node, which is why malignant lymph nodes often remain painless. When the acute infection subsides, the swelling of the lymph nodes also goes down and the pain subsides. This usually does not require any therapy.
Diagnosis
A swelling of the lymph nodes in the armpit can usually be easily detected. The doctor can already notice the swelling when palpating the typical areas. To be sure that it is a lymph node, an ultrasound examination can be performed.
During this examination the doctor can also determine the size of the lymph node. It is considered enlarged if it has a diameter of more than one centimeter. In addition, the physician can get an indication as to whether the lymph node tends to be benign or malignant by looking at how the lymph node presents itself in the ultrasound.
Benign lymph node enlargements look rather oblong or oval in ultrasound, have a uniform structure and are not firmly attached to the surrounding tissue. Malignant lymph nodes are often irregularly shaped, dislocated and firmly attached to surrounding structures. If there is evidence of malignant lymph node swelling, the lymph node should be removed or biopsied.
For this purpose, a sample is taken from the lymph node and examined under the microscope for fine tissue. This examination can then be used to determine whether there is a malignant cause. In case of an emergency, further diagnostics will follow in order to detect possible primary tumors that have spread into the armpit (X-ray, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging).