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Lymphadenopathy
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<p>Lymphadenopathy or adenopathy is a <a href="/facts/Disease/55eeQlGL">disease</a> of the <a href="/facts/Lymph_node/vkwfcQjH">lymph nodes</a>, in which they are abnormal in size or consistency. Lymphadenopathy of an <a href="/facts/Inflammation/Ura86MIy">inflammatory</a> type (the most common type) is lymphadenitis, producing <a href="/facts/Swelling_(medical)/Q6MI3KdH">swollen</a> or enlarged lymph nodes. In clinical practice, the distinction between lymphadenopathy and lymphadenitis is rarely made and the words are usually treated as <a href="/facts/Synonym/a3BgMcdu">synonymous</a>. Inflammation of the <a href="/facts/Lymphatic_vessel/jND0hlDu">lymphatic vessels</a> is known as <a href="/facts/Lymphangitis/SRYw8ha7">lymphangitis</a>. Infectious lymphadenitis affecting <a href="/facts/Cervical_lymph_nodes/Korh0M99">lymph nodes in the neck</a> is often called <a href="/facts/Tuberculous_cervical_lymphadenitis/tIfI1qrD">scrofula</a>. </p><p>Lymphadenopathy is a common and nonspecific <a href="/facts/Medical_sign/BzP6MrTN">sign</a>. Common causes include <a href="/facts/Infection/182XrncP">infections</a> (from minor causes such as the <a href="/facts/Common_cold/fP9A03U9">common cold</a> and post-vaccination swelling to serious ones such as <a href="/facts/HIV/AIDS/RqLIEMuJ">HIV/AIDS</a>), <a href="/facts/Autoimmune_disease/sojBeQ7t">autoimmune diseases</a>, and <a href="/facts/Cancer/PVW6n1D0">cancer</a>. Lymphadenopathy is frequently <a href="/facts/Idiopathy/YIVAonwA">idiopathic</a> and self-limiting. </p>