Chapter 47 Lymphadenopathy and Lymphadenitis
ETIOLOGY
What Causes Lymphadenopathy?
Viral infection commonly causes bilateral enlarged, minimally tender, mobile anterior cervical nodes without other lymph node involvement. Systemic viral infections, such as Epstein-Barr virus, usually cause more diffuse involvement of lymphoid tissue that includes nodes in the anterior and posterior cervical chains, and axilla, plus the spleen. Malignancy such as leukemia may cause lymphadenopathy (see Chapter 63).