Lymphatic Diseases

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Summary

The lymphatic system is a network of tissues and organs. It is made up of:

Lymph - a fluid that contains white blood cells that defend against germs
Lymph vessels - vessels that carry lymph throughout your body. They are different from blood vessels.
Lymph nodes - glands found throughout the lymph vessels. Along with your spleen, these nodes are where white blood cells fight infection.

Your bone marrow and thymus produce the cells in lymph. They are part of the system, too.

The lymphatic system clears away infection and keeps your body fluids in balance. If it's not working properly, fluid builds in your tissues and causes swelling, called lymphedema. Other lymphatic system problems can include infections, blockage, and cancer.

Start Here

Lymphatic System (For Parents) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
Overview of the Lymphatic System (Merck & Co., Inc.) Also in Spanish

Diagnosis and Tests

Lymphoscintigraphy (American College of Radiology; Radiological Society of North America) Also in Spanish

Treatments and Therapies

Drugs Approved for Multicentric Castleman Disease (National Cancer Institute)

Related Issues

Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy (National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish

Specifics

About Lymphatic Filariasis (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Autoimmune Lymphoproliferative Syndrome (ALPS) (National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases)
Castleman Disease (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
Mesenteric Lymphadenitis (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
Swollen Lymph Nodes (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
What Is LAM (Lymphangioleiomyomatosis)? (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute) Also in Spanish

Genetics

Autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
Histiocytosis-lymphadenopathy plus syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
Milroy disease: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)

Images

Lymph Nodes (National Cancer Institute)

Videos and Tutorials

Lymph nodes (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish

Clinical Trials

ClinicalTrials.gov: Lymph Nodes (National Institutes of Health)
ClinicalTrials.gov: Lymphatic Diseases (National Institutes of Health)

Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

Reference Desk

Introduction to the Lymphatic System (National Cancer Institute)
Lymphatic System (For Parents) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish

Find an Expert

Children

Chylous Ascites (For Parents) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
Lymphatic Malformations (For Parents) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish

Teenagers

Spleen and Lymphatic System (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish

Patient Handouts

Cancer and lymph nodes (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Cystic hygroma (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Groin lump (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Lymph node biopsy (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Lymph system (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Lymphadenitis (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Lymphangitis (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Lymphofollicular hyperplasia (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Neck lump (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Swollen lymph nodes (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish

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MEDICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA

National Institutes of Health

The primary NIH organization for research on Lymphatic Diseases is the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

Disclaimers

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