Calcified lymph nodes - what's behind it?

Definition - What is a Calcified Lymph Node?

A thickened lymph node is often referred to as a calcified lymph node. This often feels hard during the palpation examination and can also be painful. Since lymph nodes take on a variety of tasks in our immune system, hardening or calcification of the lymph node cannot immediately be assigned to a specific disease. Rather, the cause of the lymph node change can be determined in a multi-stage procedure. Depending on the cause of the discomfort, you can leave the calcified lymph node as it is, or you have to take it out and take further diagnostic steps.

I recognize a calcified lymph node from these symptoms

A calcified lymph node is usually also swollen, so that you may see a bump on the outside. Otherwise the calcified and / or swollen lymph node will often only open up by palpating the affected area. The lymph node can be slidable or firmly attached to the skin. The consistency of the lymph node can also vary: mostly calcified lymph nodes are hardened, but they can also be soft. During the palpation examination, there is often pain in the lymph nodes. The additional symptoms are extremely diverse depending on the cause of the calcification. Infections are often accompanied by fever, cough, runny nose and malaise. The presence of the so-called B symptoms (fever, unwanted weight loss of 10% of the body weight in 6 months and night sweats, so that the pajamas must be changed) should make one prudish for a malignant disease.

Pain in the calcified lymph node

A calcified lymph node is often hardened and therefore triggers the suspicion of a malignant disease. On the other hand, painful lymph nodes tend to suggest an acute inflammatory event such as an infection. If the lymph node is suddenly swollen and hard, one should rather assume an infection. Pain in the calcified lymph nodes should therefore be further diagnosed. In addition to the pain and calcification of the lymph nodes, the size is also important. In addition, one should also focus on other symptoms.

For more information, see:Lymph node pain

Where are calcified lymph nodes common?

Noticeable lymph nodes such as calcified lymph nodes are particularly common in the neck area. Everyone has enlarged and hardened lymph nodes in the neck area several times in their life. It is not uncommon for this to occur at other typical lymph node stations such as under the chin and under the jaw. There are also often conspicuous lymph nodes in the groin region. In many people, these are chronically thickened without any disease being present. Calcified lymph nodes are also more common under the armpits. There you should further clarify the cause of the change. Altered lymph nodes are also more common in the chest and along the abdominal artery.

These can be causes of a calcified lymph node

When one speaks of a calcified lymph node, what is usually meant is a single lymph node that is hardened. In most cases, this is due to a benign condition. Lymph nodes often enlarge with infections and become somewhat harder as a result. Infections can be viral or bacterial. For example, the lymph nodes on the neck are often already changed when you have a cold. Infectious diseases that persist for a long time, such as the Eppstein-Barr virus, also lead to severe lymph node swelling, which can also cause calcification in individual lymph nodes. Lymph node swelling also occurs locally if, for example, skin injuries occur. Systemic diseases such as sarcoid or tuberculosis can also lead to changes in the lymph nodes. Hardened lymph nodes are typical for both of these diseases; these are often located in the thoracic region. With calcified lymph nodes, one must always think of a malignant (malignant) disease. Altered lymph nodes can also indicate certain types of tumor. However, it cannot automatically be concluded from a calcified lymph node whether it is a malignant disease, an infection or a completely harmless change in the lymph node.

You might also be interested in: Causes of Lymph Node Swelling

Diagnosis of a calcified lymph node

When diagnosing the calcified lymph node, the anamnesis plays the most important role. The doctor asks the person concerned and thus collects information on the possible cause of the calcification. Accompanying symptoms, for example, already give a lot of clues. During the physical exam, the changed lymph nodes are examined. It is important to find out whether the lymph nodes are soft or hard, whether the touch is painful and whether the lymph nodes can slide against the skin. An ultrasound of the affected lymph nodes can then be performed. In the case of calcification, the lymph node is usually noticeable by a lightening of the tissue. If this is not sufficient for diagnosis, blood values ​​can provide further information. Other imaging such as x-rays and a CT scan can also be groundbreaking. If this is not sufficient for a diagnosis, a tissue sample (= biopsy) can be taken from the lymph node and the tissue examined under the microscope.

What do you see in the ultrasound?

Calcification of the lymph node is primarily noticeable by the lightening of the tissue. The entire lymph node may be calcified, but occasionally the calcification is located in a specific point on the lymph node. For example, the cortex of the lymph node may be calcified while the inside looks normal. In addition to the degree of calcification, the size of the lymph node is usually determined. In addition, the blood flow to the lymph node can be determined using Doppler sonography, which measures the flow rate of the blood.

When do you need a biopsy?

A biopsy of the calcified lymph node is usually performed when the cause of the calcification cannot be determined with certainty. For example, if you cannot find a causative infectious disease, you should also think of malignant causes of the calcification. In order to rule out this, one first resorts to imaging such as ultrasound or an X-ray image. If a malignancy cannot be excluded even then, a biopsy should be performed. Tissue samples are taken, which are then examined under the microscope. Changes in the lymph nodes can be detected. If the lymph nodes are calcified due to a tumor, cells from the organ affected by the tumor may also be found in the calcified and thickened lymph nodes.

Course of disease

The course of the disease of a calcified lymph node can vary greatly depending on the cause. If there is an underlying infection, the lymph nodes usually swell as part of the infection or a few days later. Even after the disease has subsided, it can still be thickened and only decrease in size a few days later. With systemic or malignant diseases, there is often a slow and inconspicuous calcification of the lymph nodes. This usually lasts for weeks to months.

When do you need treatment?

Since the causes of a calcified lymph node are extremely diverse, it is not possible to state in general after the lymph node examination whether treatment is necessary. Treatment is not necessary for many infectious diseases, especially when they are caused by viruses. Bacterial infections can be treated with antibiotics depending on their severity, but they can also be healed without therapy if they are less severe. Systemic diseases such as tuberculosis and sarcoid require special therapy. If the cause of the calcified lymph nodes is a malignant tumor disease, specialized tumor treatment is usually also necessary. This often includes an operation on the affected lymph nodes and drug therapy.