[메디체크 헬스UP] Malignant tumors grow slowly… “Simple infection when they grow rapidly”
A 24-year-old female nurse visited the hospital with symptoms of a lump under the left collarbone while recovering from COVID-19 infection. If she’s a simple viral infection she should subside within a few days, but after 3 months it’s still getting bigger and harder. She did a biopsy at the University Hospital and it was her B-cell lymphoma.
Some people complain of a sore throat or a sore throat when they are tired. There may also be lumps around the neck. This is a symptom of lymphadenitis, which usually goes away as a transient. If it lasts for several months and becomes larger or hardened, it should not be dismissed as simple inflammation. Because it could be lymphoma.
There are lymph glands that are similar in structure to blood vessels that connect the body with small tubes. Lymph nodes are passageways through which body fluids move. Normally, the lymph nodes are not palpable. Lymph nodes can be palpable and felt especially in children.
Lymphadenitis is often caused by an infection of the upper respiratory tract, including the mouth. You may have a bacterial or viral infection, such as streptococcus or staphylococcus. It is often caused by tuberculosis, and in rare cases, atypical tuberculosis bacillus or brucellosis can also be the cause. It can also be caused by blood cancer or lymphoma, and lymphadenitis can also occur when sarcoidosis (sarcoidosis), systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis or immune function disorders occur.
The cause can be estimated to some extent by examining the degree of lymph node enlargement, size, hardness, speed of growth, and presence or absence of tenderness. In the case of tuberculous lymphadenitis, multiple nodules are often palpable. It cannot be differentiated by clinical symptoms alone, and a biopsy should be performed as in the case of a nurse. Depending on the site of occurrence, an imaging test (ultrasound or computed tomography) can be used to check the degree of lymph node enlargement and the presence or absence of invasion of surrounding tissues. There are two methods of biopsy: the method of obtaining a small amount of tissue by piercing a needle and the method of excising the tissue by incising the skin after anesthesia. Both methods have their pros and cons and should be applied according to the situation.
Most cases of lymphadenitis are benign or transient viral infections that do not require special treatment. Some bacterial infections, tuberculosis, or tumors must be treated if the cause is the cause. Infections caused by some bacteria other than common viruses are treated with antibiotics, and if tuberculosis is the cause, anti-tuberculosis drugs.
Malignant tumors are dangerous. Malignant tumors originating in the oral cavity, esophagus, thyroid gland, or pharynx may have metastasized to the lymph nodes. A lump caused by inflammation is sudden painful and suddenly enlarges. If it grows slowly for several months and is painless and hard, a malignant tumor should be suspected. A simple ultrasound scan can determine whether it is a general inflammation or a malignant tumor. Age, gender, and risk factors should be considered, but malignant cases are usually less than 1%.
In order to prevent lymphadenitis, it is good to exercise steadily to increase immunity, get enough sleep and not be stressed. There is a report that raising the body temperature by 1 degree increases the number of immune cells by 30%, so it is important to warm the body in winter.
I think that eating foods that are good for immunity, vitamins, and zinc are also helpful. Here are some foods that are good for immunity.
First, garlic. Garlic contains an ingredient called allicin, which helps absorb vitamin B, promotes energy metabolism in the body, and removes free radicals from the blood. In addition, it has sterilization and detoxification, and its antiviral effect kills pathogens and viruses in the human body to prevent disease.
Second, it is tangerines. Citrus fruits are rich in vitamin C, which helps to strengthen the body’s immunity and can effectively prevent typical diseases caused by weather changes.
Third, soybean protein. Protein is the most essential nutrient in the body after water. Protein strengthens the lymphatic tissue that makes up immune cells and produces antibodies that fight foreign antigens. Soybean, the best vegetable protein, is rich in isoflavones that help create immune substances. Because isoflavone content increases when soybeans are fermented, eating soybean paste or cheonggukjang is also a good choice.
