Intermediate
Technical
In the Industry Vocabulary Test
cervical lymphadenopathy
Pronunciation: SER-vih-kal lim-fad-eh-NOP-ah-thee
Abnormal enlargement of lymph nodes in the neck region.
Full Definition
Enlarged lymph nodes in the cervical region that may indicate local infection, inflammatory conditions, or malignant disease. In endocrine surgery, cervical lymphadenopathy often raises concern for metastatic thyroid cancer, particularly when nodes are found in the central or lateral neck compartments. Systematic evaluation includes ultrasound assessment and potentially fine needle aspiration with thyroglobulin washout for suspected thyroid cancer metastases.
Usage
Usage note: Specify anatomic location (central vs lateral) when describing in thyroid cancer context.
In Context
- "Preoperative imaging revealed cervical lymphadenopathy suspicious for thyroid cancer metastases." — Radiology report
- "Cervical lymphadenopathy in the setting of thyroid cancer requires comprehensive neck evaluation." — Clinical assessment
Also known as
cervical adenopathy
neck lymphadenopathy
Don't confuse with
cervical masses
thyroid nodules