Lymph Node Size Guide report

Lymphocytes are the smallest white blood cells in the human body. Specifically, it is responsible for two tasks. Externally, it resists the invasion of viruses and bacteria; internally, it monitors the canceration of cells in the body. Lymph nodes are the home of lymphocytes. There are about 800 lymph nodes in the human body, like large and small safety fortresses.

Lymph nodes are one of the main lymphoid organs in the body and are located almost everywhere. They are important places for monitoring abnormal changes in the body, such as pathogen invasion, filtering and removing pathogenic microorganisms, and inducing antigen-specific immune responses. They are also one of the main ways of tumor metastasis.

Although lymph nodes are inherently developed, their morphology and structure are highly plastic. Under normal physiological conditions, lymph nodes maintain a relatively stable size and structure; however, under pathological conditions (e.g., infection, inflammation, and tumor).

Lymph Node Size Guide

The size of cervical lymph nodes varies by location and gender, and lymph nodes in the upper neck, including the submandibular and level II, are larger than other locations. There is no uniform standard for the threshold for differentiating benign and malignant lymph nodes.

Normal lymph nodes are oval or kidney-shaped. Reactive hyperplastic lymph nodes have diffuse hyperplasia and cortical widening but maintain normal morphology. Malignant lymph nodes lose their normal shape and are often round. Some scholars have proposed a "shape index" to describe the shape of lymph nodes, that is, the ratio of the short axis to the long axis of the lymph node. Benign lymph node shape index < 0.5, malignant > 0.5. The shape index is a good indicator for distinguishing benign and malignant lymph nodes, but it is not always accurate.

Normal Lymph Node Size

Normal lymph nodes are found in the neck, armpit, and groin. Usually, they are the same size on both sides of the body. Normal lymph nodes are generally less than 1/2 inch (12 mm) across. It is the size of a pea or baked bean. They also feel soft and are easy to move.

Swollen nodes with a viral infection are usually 1/2 to 1 inch (12 -25 mm) across, and nodes with bacterial infections are usually over 1 inch (25 mm), which is about a quarter size. Lymph nodes can become swollen for several reasons. The most common causes of swollen lymph nodes are upper respiratory infections (URI) and infections near lymph nodes in parts of the body.

Common Objects for Guessing Lymph Node Size

• Pea or pencil eraser: 1/4 inch or 6 mm
• Dime: 3/4 inch or 1.8 cm
• Quarter: 1 inch or 2.4 cm
• Golf ball: 1 1/2 inches or 3.6 cm
• Tennis Ball: 2 1/2 inches or 6 cm

Conclusion

Healthy lymph nodes are typically pea-sized. You should not normally be able to feel them. Swollen lymph nodes can sometimes be a sign of something less common. For example, they may be a symptom of cancer, HIV, or tuberculosis. Visit your doctor as soon as possible if you ever suspect one of your lymph nodes has become swollen or if you notice any lumps or bumps on your body. You may want to check your lymph nodes once a month.