Q: t3 (liothyronine) 5.38 t4 > 24.86 tsh < 0.005, diffuse enlargement of thyroid, enlarged left level iii lymph node (19x5mm), multiple sub-cm pretracheal lymph nodes?

Thyroid enlargement: You do not give the "normal range" of values, but it appears you are hyperthyroid (elevated ft4, low tsh). Thyroid is diffusely enlarged (no nodules). This is consistent with graves disease. There is a significant lymph node, but this can occur with graves, and does not necessarily suggest cancer. You need to see an endocrinologist to sort through the information.

Q: what is the difference between pretracheal and paratracheal lymph nodes, or are they different terms for the same thing? thank you docs.

The location.: "Pretracheal" means the lymph nodes are located just in front of the trachea, "paratracheal" means they are located alongside the trachea.

Q: i am having laser tattoo removal on the back of my neck. i had my first session two weeks ago , its healing very well however i noticed a round hard painful lump at the base of my skull back of neck. swollen lymph node??

: You are likely correct. Any disturbance of the skin surface as would be in tattoo removal may trigger enlargement of local nodes that can persist for a few weeks.

Q: can you pop a lymph node?

Not poppable: Lymphatic system absorbs/carries things too big to go into the arteries/veins like bacteria eaten by white cells and digested food. Lymph nodes "taste" the lymph for anything bad like bacteria/viruses/cancers, etc. When it detects a problem, it alerts the immune system and your body reacts. They enlarge in response to the inflammation they create when they react. They shrink when all is well.

Q: what does the aortocaval lymph node do?

Monitoring Centers: Lymphatic system absorbs/carries things too big to go into the arteries/veins like bacteria eaten by white cells and digested food. Lymph nodes "taste" the lymph for anything bad like bacteria/viruses/cancers, etc. When it detects a problem, it alerts the immune system and your body reacts. They enlarge in response to the inflammation they create when they react. They shrink when all is well.

Q: what does a normal lymph node feel like?

Can't feel normal 1: Lymphatic system absorbs/carries things too big to go into the arteries/veins like bacteria eaten by white cells and digested food. Lymph nodes "taste" the lymph for anything bad like bacteria/viruses/cancers, etc. When it detects a problem, it alerts the immune system and your body reacts. They enlarge in response to the inflammation they create when they react. They shrink when all is well.

Q: what could cause a lymph node to enlarge?

Lots of things: Swollen lymph nodes may be swollen due to inflammation, infection, lymphoma, cancer, sarcoid or castlemann's disease. I am sure there are other possibilities but off the top of my head these seem to be the most common.

Q: how to determine if my lymph node is hard?

Function/condition: The lymphatic system absorbs and carries things too big to go into the arteries and veins like bacteria eaten by white cells and digested food. Lymph nodes "taste" the lymph to see if anything bad is there like bacteria, viruses, cancers, etc. When it detects a problem, it alerts the immune system and your body reacts. They enlarge/hard in response to the inflammation created when they react.

Q: what size of lymph node is considered to be abnormal?

: Lymph nodes are hubs for immune system components. If there is an infection, the lymph nodes near it swell with immune system cells, antibodies, etc. Lymph nodes that are not inflammed should not be palpable (able to be felt). If you can feel lymph nodes and have other symptoms near that area, you should seek medical evaluation.

Question 1

is 13mm pretracheal lymph node large?

Accepted Answer

Size not important: Lymphatic system absorbs/carries things too big to go into the arteries/veins like bacteria eaten by white cells and digested food. Lymph nodes "taste" the lymph for anything bad  like bacteria/viruses/cancers, etc. When it detects a problem, it alerts the immune system and your body reacts.  They enlarge in response to the inflammation they create when they react.  They shrink when all is well.

Question 2

t3 (liothyronine) 5.38 t4 > 24.86 tsh < 0.005, diffuse enlargement of thyroid, enlarged left level iii lymph node (19x5mm), multiple sub-cm pretracheal lymph nodes?

Accepted Answer

Thyroid enlargement: You do not give the "normal range" of values, but it appears you are hyperthyroid (elevated ft4, low tsh). Thyroid is diffusely enlarged (no nodules). This is consistent with graves disease. There is a significant lymph node, but this can occur with graves, and does not necessarily suggest cancer.  You need to see an endocrinologist to sort through the information.

Question 3

what is the difference between pretracheal and paratracheal lymph nodes, or are they different terms for the same thing?  thank you docs.

Accepted Answer

The location.: "Pretracheal" means the lymph nodes are located just in front of the trachea, "paratracheal" means they are located alongside the trachea.

Question 4

i am having laser tattoo removal on the back of my neck. i had my first session two weeks ago , its healing very well however i noticed a round hard painful lump at the base of my skull back of neck. swollen lymph node??

Accepted Answer

: You are likely correct. Any disturbance of the skin surface as would be in tattoo removal may trigger enlargement of local nodes that can persist for a few weeks.

Question 5

can you pop a lymph node?

Accepted Answer

Not poppable: Lymphatic system absorbs/carries things too big to go into the arteries/veins like bacteria eaten by white cells and digested food. Lymph nodes "taste" the lymph for anything bad  like bacteria/viruses/cancers, etc. When it detects a problem, it alerts the immune system and your body reacts.  They enlarge in response to the inflammation they create when they react.  They shrink when all is well.

Question 6

what does the aortocaval lymph node do?

Accepted Answer

Monitoring Centers: Lymphatic system absorbs/carries things too big to go into the arteries/veins like bacteria eaten by white cells and digested food. Lymph nodes "taste" the lymph for anything bad  like bacteria/viruses/cancers, etc. When it detects a problem, it alerts the immune system and your body reacts.  They enlarge in response to the inflammation they create when they react.  They shrink when all is well.

Question 7

what does a normal lymph node feel like?

Accepted Answer

Can't feel normal 1: Lymphatic system absorbs/carries things too big to go into the arteries/veins like bacteria eaten by white cells and digested food. Lymph nodes "taste" the lymph for anything bad  like bacteria/viruses/cancers, etc. When it detects a problem, it alerts the immune system and your body reacts.  They enlarge in response to the inflammation they create when they react.  They shrink when all is well.

Question 8

what could cause a lymph node to enlarge?

Accepted Answer

Lots of things: Swollen lymph nodes may be swollen due to inflammation, infection, lymphoma, cancer, sarcoid or castlemann's disease.

I am sure there are other possibilities but off the top of my head these seem to be the most common.

Question 9

how to determine if my lymph node is hard?

Accepted Answer

Function/condition: The lymphatic system absorbs and carries things too big to go into the arteries and veins like bacteria eaten by white cells and digested food. Lymph nodes "taste" the lymph to see if anything bad is there like bacteria, viruses, cancers, etc.  When it detects a problem, it alerts the immune system and your body reacts.  They enlarge/hard in response to the inflammation created when they react.

Question 10

what size of lymph node is considered to be abnormal?

Accepted Answer

: Lymph nodes are hubs for immune system components. If there is an infection, the lymph nodes near it swell with immune system cells, antibodies, etc. Lymph nodes that are not inflammed should not be palpable (able to be felt). If you can feel lymph nodes and have other symptoms near that area, you should seek medical evaluation.

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Doctor answers about:

Pretracheal lymph node

A member asked:

Is 13mm pretracheal lymph node large?

A member asked:

T3 (liothyronine) 5.38 t4 > 24.86 tsh < 0.005, diffuse enlargement of thyroid, enlarged left level iii lymph node (19x5mm), multiple sub-cm pretracheal lymph nodes?

A member asked:

What is the difference between pretracheal and paratracheal lymph nodes, or are they different terms for the same thing? thank you docs.

A member asked:

I am having laser tattoo removal on the back of my neck. i had my first session two weeks ago , its healing very well however i noticed a round hard painful lump at the base of my skull back of neck. swollen lymph node??

A member asked:

Can you pop a lymph node?

A member asked:

What does the aortocaval lymph node do?

A member asked:

What does a normal lymph node feel like?

A member asked:

What could cause a lymph node to enlarge?

A member asked:

How to determine if my lymph node is hard?

A member asked:

What size of lymph node is considered to be abnormal?

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