Swollen axillary lymph nodes can range in size from a small pea to a large grape. The nodes may feel spongy or hard like a marble.
A swollen lymph node in the armpit may be a sign of a bacterial or viral infection, an injury, or a serious health condition, such as cancer. The possible causes of lymph node swelling range in severity from common infections that typically resolve on their own to more serious conditions, such as lymphoma.
The most common symptom if cancer has spread to the lymph nodes is that they feel hard or swollen. You might have any of the following symptoms if your cancer has spread to the lymph nodes: a lump or swelling under your armpit. swelling in your arm or hand (lymphoedema)
If the swelling in your armpits persists, see your healthcare provider. Swollen lymph nodes can be a literal pain in the neck. But more often than not, minor infection or illness is the cause. They should go away as soon as your condition clears up.
Healthy lymph nodes are more rubbery than the surrounding tissue but are not solid like stone. Any lumps on the neck, groin or armpits that are hard, very enlarged, and do not move when pushed may indicate lymphoma or another type of cancer and should be investigated by your GP.
Lymph nodes measuring more than 1 cm in the short axis diameter are considered malignant.
If a swollen lymph node is overly firm and is not shaped like a lima bean, it could potentially be cancerous. Likewise, if the lump is obviously not in the skin, and if it persists, gets larger, and is not accompanied by signs of an infection, it may be time to seek medical attention.
Risk factors and associated cancers
Most cases of lymphadenopathy aren't caused by cancer. Malignancies are reported in as few as 1.1 percent of primary-care patients with swollen lymph nodes, according to a review in American Family Physician.
It's important to keep an eye on swollen lymph nodes, but they are rarely caused by cancer. According to a research published in the journal American Family Physician, in patients 40 years and older, only about 4% of those with unexplained swollen lymph nodes turned out to be linked to cancer.
Normal nodes are usually less than ½ inch (12 mm) across. This is the size of a pea or baked bean.
The most common symptom of Hodgkin lymphoma is a swelling in the neck, armpit or groin. The swelling is usually painless, although some people find that it aches. The swelling is caused by an excess of affected lymphocytes (white blood cells) collecting in a lymph node (also called lymph glands).
Enlarged lymph nodes that have an irregular shape and a rubbery, hard consistency may be infiltrated by malignant cells.
Swollen glands are a sign the body is fighting an infection. They usually get better by themselves within 2 weeks.
A lump in the armpit can have many causes. These include swollen lymph nodes, infections, or cysts. The lymphatic system filters fluid from around cells. It is an important part of the immune system.
While it may not be familiar, stress can certainly cause swollen lymph nodes. First, these small organs are located throughout the body. They are apart of our immune system and shield our bodies against disease.
While most armpit lumps are not serious, some can be a sign of an underlying medical condition that requires prompt treatment. For example, a painful lump in the armpit may be due to an infection or an abscess, while a painless lump could be a swollen lymph node or a more serious condition like breast cancer.
swollen glands (lymph nodes) – usually a sign of infection, such as a cold or glandular fever (the glands tend to go down when you recover) a cyst – a harmless fluid-filled lump that may disappear on its own without treatment.
Following infection, lymph nodes occasionally remain permanently enlarged, though they should be non-tender, small (less the 1 cm), have a rubbery consistency and none of the characteristics described above or below.
Unlike most cancers, rates of Hodgkin lymphoma are highest among teens and young adults (ages 15 to 39 years) and again among older adults (ages 75 years or older). White people are more likely than Black people to develop non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and men are more likely than women to develop lymphoma.
Inguinal lymphadenopathy is common, with nodes enlarged up to 1 to 2 cm in diameter in many healthy adults, particularly those who spend time barefoot outdoors. Benign reactive lymphadenopathy and infection are the most common etiologies, and inguinal lymphadenopathy is of low suspicion for malignancy.
According to a American Family Physician paper, an unexplained lump (i.e., one that's not quickly identified as being from illness or injury) has about a 4% chance of being malignant, if you're over the age of 40; and about a 0.4% chance of malignancy if you're under 40.
See a GP if:
your lump lasts more than 2 weeks. a lump grows back after it's been removed. you have a lump in the breast or testicles. you have a swelling on the side of your neck, armpit or groin that does not go down.
Swollen axillary lymph nodes can range in size from a small pea to a large grape. The nodes may feel spongy or hard like a marble.