Friday, April 7, 2017

Background

  •  Also known as reactive lymphoid hypertrophy or more simply reactive lymph nodes
  • Benign etiology - lymphoid proliferation in response to antigen exposure
  • Often noted with other lymphadenopthy in the neck
  • Retropharyngeal nodes are found from the skull base to the hyoid bone
  • May grow to over 1 cm in size and deform the naso- or oropharynx

Radiologic Findings

  • On CT: non-contrast shows homogeneity with muscle density; contrast shows variable enhancement, most often minimal
  • On MR: T1 shows homogeneous low to moderate signal; T2 shows homogeneous moderate signal; T1 post-contrast gives mild enhancement
  • Most common in chldren and those under 30 years of age
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References

Niedzielski A, Chmielik LP, Mielnik-Niedzielska G, Kasprzyk A, Bogusławska J. Adenoid hypertrophy in children: a narrative review of pathogenesis and clinical relevance. BMJ Paediatr Open. 2023 Apr;7(1):e001710. doi: 10.1136/bmjpo-2022-001710. PMID: 37045541; PMCID: PMC10106074.