3The Diagnosis of Swollen Lymph Nodes
A swollen lymph node is a symptom or manifestation of an underlying disease, so the diagnosis is to find out what causes the condition. The doctor will begin with your medical history and ask some basic questions to rule out apparent possibilities. For example, patients taking anti-seizer medication are more likely to develop swollen lymph nodes. Secondly, doctors will perform a physical exam to check the location, size, consistency, and tenderness of the swollen lymph nodes. These evaluations can offer doctors some clues of the diagnosis. However, further examinations like blood tests, imaging studies, and lymph node biopsy are necessary when there is no reason to explain the swelling. Blood tests for complete blood count (CBC) help doctors tell if the swollen lymph nodes are linked to an infection. Imaging studies such as X-rays, ultra-sounds, and CT scans allow doctors to have an inner view of the swollen area. A biopsy involves removing a sample or entire lymph node for examination. [2]
