Lyphandenopathy

Lymphadenopathy is a disease of the lymphnodes whether by inflammatory cells or neoplastic cells. Our lymphnodes have a full time job filtering lymphatic fluids of harmful particles before entering our venous blood supply. There are many things that humans can be exposed to are thought to cause different forms of lymphadenopathy. Certain insect and animal bites, infectious contacts, environmental exposures such as tobacco, alcohol, ultraviolet radiation and chronic use of medications are just a few things thought to attribute to lymphandenopathy.
This subject interests me because my own father was diagnosed with Lymphoma in 2003-04. I have learned that people with autoimmune deficiency diseases are more susceptible to lymphandenopathy. My father was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (autoimmmune disease) at the age of 43, which would explain the later diagnosis of lymphoma. However, I also believe the potent and sometime chemo related drugs he took for years to function, aided in his diagnosis of lymphoma. Significant fever, night sweats, muscle weakness, unusual rashes were just a few of his symptoms that would strike at unrelated times.
Lymphadenopathy is described as a node larger than one centimeter , although some nodes larger that 5mm are considered abnormal depending on location. Nodes of a lymphoma patient are firm, fixed and rubbery, while inflammed nodes from a non specific infection are painful, tender nodes that are usually bilateral and mobile.

Arteriovenous Malformations

AVM's are masses of abnormal blood vessels that can grow in any area of the brain or other parts of the body. AVM's are very rare and occur in only one percent of the population. Even though the cause is not known, it is suspected they are present at birth due to abnormal development of blood vessels in utero. They are not cancerous and do not spread to other parts of the body. They are usually discovered between the ages of twenty to forty. These masses eventually hemorrhage. When this happens, it can damage the surrounding tissues in the brain , resulting in a stroke. Permanent brain damage, disabilities and even death are effects of a bleed. Symptoms of an AVM are headaches, seizures or stroke like symptoms. However, an AVM can be present in the body and show no signs or symptoms.

Treatment options include surgery depending on location of the AVM. Radiation treatments have an eighty percent success rate in shrinking the AVM for a period of two to three years. Complications are low with this type of treatment. Embolization is another type of treatment that consists of a small catheter placed into the brain vessels to the AVM. A liquid type glue is injected into the vessels blocking the AVM off. This type of treatment is usually combined with radiation or surgery.

Here is a few radiography pictures of an AVM.