Difference between revisions of "Lymph nodes"

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The '''lymph node''', abbreviated '''LN''', is very important in pathology.  It is the site of mets and may be the site of a primary lesion, i.e. lymphoma.
'''Lymph nodes''', abbreviated '''LNs''', are very important in pathology.  They are the site of [[metastases]] and/or may be the site of a primary tumour, i.e. [[lymphoma]].


Haematopathology and lymphoma is dealt with in the ''[[haematopathology]]'' article.  This article covers the basics of lymph nodes.  Lymph node pathology is dealt with in the ''[[lymph node pathology]]'' article.
Haematopathology and lymphoma is dealt with in the ''[[haematopathology]]'' article.  This article covers the basics of lymph nodes.  Lymph node pathology is dealt with in the ''[[lymph node pathology]]'' article. [[Grossing]] is covered in ''[[lymph node grossing]]''.


==Clinical==
=Clinical=
===Normal (clinical)===
===Normal (clinical)===
*Round.
*Round.
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*Rubbery = suggestive of lymphoma.
*Rubbery = suggestive of lymphoma.
*Tender (hurts when ya touch it) = suggestive of infection.
*Tender (hurts when ya touch it) = suggestive of infection.
*Fixed (immobile) = suggestive of cancer, usually carcinoma.
*Fixed (immobile) = suggestive of [[cancer]], usually carcinoma.
*Hard = suggestive of cancer.
*Hard = suggestive of cancer.
*"Large" - cancer or infection.
*"Large" - cancer or infection.
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**What qualifies for "large" depends on the location in the body.
**What qualifies for "large" depends on the location in the body.


==Gross pathologic exam==
=Gross pathologic exam=
{{Main|Lymph node grossing}}
Normal:
Normal:
*Firm (relative to adipose tissue).
*Firm (relative to adipose tissue).
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*White lesions, especially irregular = suggestive of carcinoma.
*White lesions, especially irregular = suggestive of carcinoma.
*White, glistening, with lobulated surface - "fish flesh" = suggestive of lymphoma.
*White, glistening, with lobulated surface - "fish flesh" = suggestive of lymphoma.
**Subtle lobulation (~1 mm) on section suggestive of ''follicular lymphoma''.<ref>DB. 5 August 2010.</ref>
**Subtle lobulation (~1 mm) on section suggestive of ''[[follicular lymphoma]]''.<ref>Bailey, D. 5 August 2010.</ref>


==LN architecture==
=Microscopic=
==Lymph node architecture==
Lymph node architecture (superficial to deep):<ref name=Ref_WFH4_206-8>{{Ref WFH4|206-8}}</ref>
Lymph node architecture (superficial to deep):<ref name=Ref_WFH4_206-8>{{Ref WFH4|206-8}}</ref>
*Capsule.
*Capsule.
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Notes:
Notes:
*Trabeculae - segment the LN radially, i.e. are spoke-like structures.
*[[Trabeculae]] - segment the LN radially, i.e. are spoke-like structures.


==LN follicles==
==Lymph node follicles==
Types of follicles:<ref name=Ref_WFH4_208>{{Ref WFH4|208}}</ref>
Types of follicles:<ref name=Ref_WFH4_208>{{Ref WFH4|208}}</ref>
#Primary follicle - no germinal center (pale area).
#Primary follicle - no germinal center (pale area).
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*Paler at capsular aspect.  
*Paler at capsular aspect.  
*Darker at medullary aspect.
*Darker at medullary aspect.
Image:
*[http://www.pathpedia.com/education/eatlas/histology/lymph_node/normal-lymph-node-histology-%5B10-ln01-10h%5D.jpeg?Width=600&Height=450&Format=4 Secondary follicle (pathpedia.com)].<ref>URL: [http://www.pathpedia.com/education/eatlas/histology/lymph_node/images.aspx http://www.pathpedia.com/education/eatlas/histology/lymph_node/images.aspx]. Accessed on: 29 October 2012.</ref>


==Location and cell types==
==Location and cell types==
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*Usually asymmetrical; thicker, i.e. more mantle cells, at capsular aspect.<ref>DG. 17 August 2010.</ref>
*Usually asymmetrical; thicker, i.e. more mantle cells, at capsular aspect.<ref>DG. 17 August 2010.</ref>


==B cell cycle==
==Cell types==
Follicular dendritic cells:<ref name=pmid9258622>{{cite journal |author=Wright CA, Nayler SJ, Leiman G |title=Cytopathology of follicular dendritic cell tumors |journal=Diagn. Cytopathol. |volume=17 |issue=2 |pages=138–42 |year=1997 |month=August |pmid=9258622 |doi= |url=http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/57062/abstract?CRETRY=1&SRETRY=0}}</ref>
*Classically found in pairs.
*Large nucleus with:
**Basketweave chromatin pattern.
**Small central nucleolus.
 
Lymphocytes:
*See ''B lymphocytes'' section.
 
===B lymphocytes===
*B cells are best understood in the context of their maturation.
 
B cell cycle/maturation:<ref name=Ref_WFH4_210>{{Ref WFH4|210}}</ref>
B cell cycle/maturation:<ref name=Ref_WFH4_210>{{Ref WFH4|210}}</ref>
#Centroblast (CB):
#Centroblast (CB):
Line 112: Line 129:
*[http://www.healthsystem.virginia.edu/internet/hematology/HessEDD/BenignHematologicDisorders/normal-hematopoietic-cells/Secondary-lymphoid-organs-and-tissues.cfm Lymphoid organs (healthsystem.virginia.edu)].
*[http://www.healthsystem.virginia.edu/internet/hematology/HessEDD/BenignHematologicDisorders/normal-hematopoietic-cells/Secondary-lymphoid-organs-and-tissues.cfm Lymphoid organs (healthsystem.virginia.edu)].


==Cell types==
===Cell types - table===
Follicular dendritic cells:<ref name=pmid9258622>{{cite journal |author=Wright CA, Nayler SJ, Leiman G |title=Cytopathology of follicular dendritic cell tumors |journal=Diagn. Cytopathol. |volume=17 |issue=2 |pages=138–42 |year=1997 |month=August |pmid=9258622 |doi= |url=http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/57062/abstract?CRETRY=1&SRETRY=0}}</ref>
*Classically found in pairs.
*Large nucleus with:
**Basketweave chromatin pattern.
**Small central nucleolus.
 
Lymphocytes
*See ''B cell cycle'' section.
 
==Cell types - table==


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
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| mesh-like chromatin, usu. beside another one
| mesh-like chromatin, usu. beside another one
| large cell, unremarkable/small nucleolus
| large cell, unremarkable/small nucleolus
| CD21+, CD23+
| CD21+, [[CD23]]+
| other ?
| other ?
| image ?
| image ?
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|}
|}


==See also==
 
=Pathology=
{{Main|Lymph node pathology}}
LNs are very important in [[cancer staging]] and are, in many contexts, sampled routinely. 
 
===Sentinel lymph nodes===
*Abbreviated ''SLN''.
*LN sampling is associated with morbidity; thus, selective LN sampling is preferred.
*The most important LNs in a LN chain, in the context of [[cancer]], are the ones that are adjacent to the tumour; these are known as '''sentinel lymph nodes'''.
*In lymph node positive disease, the most radioactive lymph node may be negative; this happens ~13% of the time in melanoma.<ref name=pmid11314933>{{Cite journal  | last1 = McMasters | first1 = KM. | last2 = Reintgen | first2 = DS. | last3 = Ross | first3 = MI. | last4 = Wong | first4 = SL. | last5 = Gershenwald | first5 = JE. | last6 = Krag | first6 = DN. | last7 = Noyes | first7 = RD. | last8 = Viar | first8 = V. | last9 = Cerrito | first9 = PB. | title = Sentinel lymph node biopsy for melanoma: how many radioactive nodes should be removed? | journal = Ann Surg Oncol | volume = 8 | issue = 3 | pages = 192-7 | month = Apr | year = 2001 | doi =  | PMID = 11314933 }}</ref>
 
Use:
*[[Sentinel lymph node sampling in breast cancer|Breast cancer]] - very common.
*[[Malignant melanoma#Sentinel lymph node panel|Malignant melanoma]] - first context in which SLN sampling was done.
 
===Lymph node metastasis===
{{Main|Lymph node metastasis}}
*Cancer that has spread to a lymph node.
 
=See also=
*[[Haematopathology]].
*[[Haematopathology]].
*[[Lymph node pathology]].
*[[Lymph node pathology]].
*[[Basics]].
*[[Basics]].


==References==
=References=
{{reflist|2}}
{{reflist|2}}


==External links==
=External links=
*[http://pleiad.umdnj.edu/hemepath/normal_node/normal_node.html Lymph node architecture (umdnj.edu)].
*[http://pleiad.umdnj.edu/hemepath/normal_node/normal_node.html Lymph node architecture (umdnj.edu)].


[[Category:Haematopathology]]
[[Category:Haematopathology]]

Latest revision as of 19:03, 15 October 2023

Lymph nodes, abbreviated LNs, are very important in pathology. They are the site of metastases and/or may be the site of a primary tumour, i.e. lymphoma.

Haematopathology and lymphoma is dealt with in the haematopathology article. This article covers the basics of lymph nodes. Lymph node pathology is dealt with in the lymph node pathology article. Grossing is covered in lymph node grossing.

Clinical

Normal (clinical)

  • Round.
  • "Soft".
  • Mobile.

Pathologic (clinical) - associations

  • Rubbery = suggestive of lymphoma.
  • Tender (hurts when ya touch it) = suggestive of infection.
  • Fixed (immobile) = suggestive of cancer, usually carcinoma.
  • Hard = suggestive of cancer.
  • "Large" - cancer or infection.
    • What qualifies for "large" depends on the location in the body.

Radiologic

  • Ellipical (as opposed to spherical) = may be cancer.
  • "Large" = could be cancer or infection.
    • What qualifies for "large" depends on the location in the body.

Gross pathologic exam

Main article: Lymph node grossing

Normal:

  • Firm (relative to adipose tissue).
  • Glistening surface when cut.

Pathologic:

  • White lesions, especially irregular = suggestive of carcinoma.
  • White, glistening, with lobulated surface - "fish flesh" = suggestive of lymphoma.

Microscopic

Lymph node architecture

Lymph node architecture (superficial to deep):[2]

  • Capsule.
  • Subcapsular sinus.
    • Place where metastatic cells often are found.
    • In a normal LN the vessels should be "open", i.e. have a discernible lumen.
  • Cortex:
    • Follicles (superficial).
    • Paracortex (deep).
    • Cortical sinuses.
  • Medulla:
    • Medullary cords.
    • Medullary sinuses.

Notes:

  • Trabeculae - segment the LN radially, i.e. are spoke-like structures.

Lymph node follicles

Types of follicles:[3]

  1. Primary follicle - no germinal center (pale area).
  2. Secondary follicle - have a germinal center (pale area) and mantle zone (rim of darker staining lymphocytes).

Germinal centre

Architecture:

  • Paler at capsular aspect.
  • Darker at medullary aspect.

Image:

Location and cell types

Germinal centers:[5]

  • Site of B lymphocyte proliferation; follicle center cells.
    • Centroblasts - usually superficial aspect. (??? deeper ???)
      • Darker, larger, nucleoli.
    • Centrocytes (mid germinal center).
      • Cells with cleavage.
    • Centrocytes (transforming to immunoblasts) - usually deeper aspect. (??? superficial ???)
      • Cells with cleavage.
  • Tingible body macrophages - mid germinal center.
  • Follicular dendritic cells.

Paracortex:[6]

  • Site of T lymphocytes.
  • Interdigitating dendritic cell.

Medullary cords (site of immunoglobulin synthesis):

  • B lymphocytes.
  • Plasma cells.

Mantle zone:

  • Memory B cells.
  • Usually asymmetrical; thicker, i.e. more mantle cells, at capsular aspect.[7]

Cell types

Follicular dendritic cells:[8]

  • Classically found in pairs.
  • Large nucleus with:
    • Basketweave chromatin pattern.
    • Small central nucleolus.

Lymphocytes:

  • See B lymphocytes section.

B lymphocytes

  • B cells are best understood in the context of their maturation.

B cell cycle/maturation:[5]

  1. Centroblast (CB):
    • Appearance:[9]
      • Large cells.
      • Round nucleus, dark.
      • Nucleolus (nucleoli).
      • Mitotically active.
    • Location:
      • Medullary aspect of germinal center.
  2. Centrocytes (CC), AKA cleaved cells.
    • Appearance:
      • Cleaved nucleus
      • NOT mitotically active.
    • Location:
      • Mid germinal center.
  3. Immunoblasts or memory B cells.
    • Appearance:
      • Small lymphocytes.
    • Location:
      • Peripheral blood, mantle zone.

Notes:

  • Immunoblasts may be T cells or B cells; it is not possible to tell on morphologic grounds, i.e. without IHC.
  • Memory device: centrocytes are light (it nearly rhymes).

Image:

Cell types - table

Cell Location Key feature Other morphologic IHC Other Image
Centroblast germinal center nucleolus large cell, darker staining CD10+, BCL6+ ??? other ? image ?
Centrocyte germinal center cleavage small cell, light staining CD10+, BCL6+ ??? other ? image ?
Follicular dendritic cell (FDC) germinal center mesh-like chromatin, usu. beside another one large cell, unremarkable/small nucleolus CD21+, CD23+ other ? image ?
Tingible body macrophage germinal center abundant bubbly pale cytoplasm (with junk) large cell CD68+ other ? image ?


Pathology

Main article: Lymph node pathology

LNs are very important in cancer staging and are, in many contexts, sampled routinely.

Sentinel lymph nodes

  • Abbreviated SLN.
  • LN sampling is associated with morbidity; thus, selective LN sampling is preferred.
  • The most important LNs in a LN chain, in the context of cancer, are the ones that are adjacent to the tumour; these are known as sentinel lymph nodes.
  • In lymph node positive disease, the most radioactive lymph node may be negative; this happens ~13% of the time in melanoma.[10]

Use:

Lymph node metastasis

Main article: Lymph node metastasis
  • Cancer that has spread to a lymph node.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Bailey, D. 5 August 2010.
  2. ↑ Young, Barbara; Lowe, James S.; Stevens, Alan; Heath, John W.; Deakin, Philip J. (2000). Wheaters Functional Histology (4th ed.). Churchill Livingstone. pp. 206-8. ISBN 978-0004881973.
  3. ↑ Young, Barbara; Lowe, James S.; Stevens, Alan; Heath, John W.; Deakin, Philip J. (2000). Wheaters Functional Histology (4th ed.). Churchill Livingstone. pp. 208. ISBN 978-0004881973.
  4. ↑ URL: http://www.pathpedia.com/education/eatlas/histology/lymph_node/images.aspx. Accessed on: 29 October 2012.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Young, Barbara; Lowe, James S.; Stevens, Alan; Heath, John W.; Deakin, Philip J. (2000). Wheaters Functional Histology (4th ed.). Churchill Livingstone. pp. 210. ISBN 978-0004881973.
  6. ↑ Young, Barbara; Lowe, James S.; Stevens, Alan; Heath, John W.; Deakin, Philip J. (2000). Wheaters Functional Histology (4th ed.). Churchill Livingstone. pp. 211. ISBN 978-0004881973.
  7. ↑ DG. 17 August 2010.
  8. ↑ Wright CA, Nayler SJ, Leiman G (August 1997). "Cytopathology of follicular dendritic cell tumors". Diagn. Cytopathol. 17 (2): 138–42. PMID 9258622. http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/57062/abstract?CRETRY=1&SRETRY=0.
  9. ↑ URL: http://www.healthsystem.virginia.edu/internet/hematology/HessEDD/BenignHematologicDisorders/normal-hematopoietic-cells/Secondary-lymphoid-organs-and-tissues.cfm. Accessed on: 31 January 2010.
  10. ↑ McMasters, KM.; Reintgen, DS.; Ross, MI.; Wong, SL.; Gershenwald, JE.; Krag, DN.; Noyes, RD.; Viar, V. et al. (Apr 2001). "Sentinel lymph node biopsy for melanoma: how many radioactive nodes should be removed?". Ann Surg Oncol 8 (3): 192-7. PMID 11314933.

External links

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