Early symptoms of neck lymph node tumors
Disease description:
There is a noticeably enlarged mass on one side of the neck; these masses are relatively hard in texture and can be moved. I am concerned it might be a lymph node tumor. What are the early symptoms of neck lymph node tumors?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Yang Ziqi
Cervical lymph node tumors, commonly referred to as malignant tumors originating from the lymph nodes in the neck, are mainly divided into two major categories: Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Early symptoms of cervical lymph node tumors:
1. Painless lymphadenopathy: The most common and earliest symptom is painless, progressive enlargement of cervical lymph nodes. Patients may notice noticeable lumps on one or both sides of the neck; these lumps are usually firm in texture and may vary in mobility.
2. Systemic symptoms: Some patients may experience systemic symptoms such as low-grade fever, night sweats, and weight loss. These symptoms may be related to the body's immune response to the tumor or caused by tumor metabolic products.
3. Fatigue: Unexplained persistent fatigue that does not improve even after adequate rest might be related to the body's energy depletion caused by the tumor.
4. Fever: Some patients with cervical lymphoma may experience fever during the early stages. This fever can be persistent high-grade fever or intermittent low-grade fever. Patients with persistent fever are generally older. The fever may be caused by the metabolic activity of tumor cells or the body's immune response to the tumor cells.
5. Skin itching: Patients with Hodgkin lymphoma may experience skin itching at an early stage, which is a specific manifestation of Hodgkin lymphoma. This itching commonly occurs in younger patients, especially more frequently among female patients.
