10 Symptoms of Thyroid Cancer
Symptom #4: Lymphadenopathy
Lymphadenopathy refers to the condition where the lymph nodes are abnormal in size, consistency, or number. Lymph nodes are a part of your immune system that function to fight off infection and can be found all over the body. If the thyroid cancer has advanced enough that it has spread to the lymph nodes surrounding the thyroid gland, the affected lymph nodes will become swollen. Many lymph nodes in the neck can be affected by the spread of thyroid cancer.
Using a high-resolution ultrasound and computed tomography (CT) scan with contrast, it allows doctors to examine these lymph nodes to evaluate if they are involved. The lymph nodes in the neck can be divided into three areas: the central neck, the anterolateral neck, and the posterolateral neck. Affected lymph nodes should be removed during surgery.
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