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What Causes Enlarged Lymph Nodes In Armpit And Fever?

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Posted on Wed, 11 Mar 2015
Question: I feel my lymph nodes in armpit and fever for 3 weeks
doctor
Answered by Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (37 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Lymph nodes biopsy seems necessary.

Detailed Answer:
Hello.

Thank you for the query.

Enlarged armpit lymph nodes and fever can be caused by breast inflammation, arm inflammation or even breast cancer. In such cases lymph nodes get larger in one armpit.
If you have lymph nodes enlarged in both armpits, lymphoma should be ruled out.

I suggest you to have some diagnostic done. Breasts and armpit ultrasound should be done. If there is no sign of inflammation in mentioned areas, biopsy of lymph nodes is necessary to determine the reason.

Hope this will help. Feel free to ask further questions.
Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Follow up: Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (3 hours later)
I just had mammogram done and ultrasound. She didn't say anything suspicious was on the films. Should I ask her again? I am getting worried. My armpit has been feeling sore for a while since I pulled my shoulder working out but when i dig deep into my armpit I can feel small nodes moving around. Is this normal? What about my fever? I had blood work done and the counts seemed fine and nothing alarming per my doctor. My mono test was negative but my igg Titers were over 8.0 in my first blood work. I had blood work done again and my igg number was at 4.19. The doctor said I may have a reactivation of mono but of course no one knows! So frustrating!!!
doctor
Answered by Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (10 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Breast cancer is not the case for sure. Mono gives some symptoms.

Detailed Answer:
Mammogram and ultrasound is enough to rule out breast cancer. So no need to ask her again. I assume that the armpits were checked with an ultrasound. If the doctor didnt mention anything about enlarged lymph nodes, you should not be worried about what you can palpate there.

If you are thin person, you may be able to palpate regular lymph nodes in both armpits. This is a normal thing. Nodes should be movable, painless and similar on both sides.
So inflammation, lymphoma and breast cancer are ruled out.
Pulled shoulder can give armpit pain, but it is not a fever cause.

In case of mono infection, you should get some typical symptoms. High fever is one of them. Throat pain (like quinsy), enlarged lymph nodes on cervix (under jaw, behind ears, on the back of head), rash, swollen eyelids should be present as well.
Fever can last even a month.
Blood work gives elevated WBC, liver enzymes (AST,ALT). IGG can be elevated, but this immunoglobulin can also indicate that you have had it in the past.

Fever is very nonspecific symptom. It can appear due to infection (anywhere in the body) or cancer.

I suggest you to have some basic tests to rule out most common sources of fever. Please have blood work (CBC), urine analysis, urine culture, liver tests, abdominal ultrasound (enlarged spleen and liver should be present in case of mono) and chest x-ray.

Hope this will help.
Regards.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Grzegorz Stanko

General Surgeon

Practicing since :2008

Answered : 5795 Questions

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What Causes Enlarged Lymph Nodes In Armpit And Fever?

Brief Answer: Lymph nodes biopsy seems necessary. Detailed Answer: Hello. Thank you for the query. Enlarged armpit lymph nodes and fever can be caused by breast inflammation, arm inflammation or even breast cancer. In such cases lymph nodes get larger in one armpit. If you have lymph nodes enlarged in both armpits, lymphoma should be ruled out. I suggest you to have some diagnostic done. Breasts and armpit ultrasound should be done. If there is no sign of inflammation in mentioned areas, biopsy of lymph nodes is necessary to determine the reason. Hope this will help. Feel free to ask further questions. Regards.