Enlargement of the mediastinal lymph nodes.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Lymphadenopathy or lymphadenitis refers to lymph nodes which are abnormal in size, number or consistency and is often used as a synonym for swollen or enlarged lymph nodes. Common causes of lymphadenopathy are infection, autoimmune disease, or malignancy. Inflammation as a cause of lymph node enlargement is known as lymphadenitis. In practice, the distinction between lymphadenopathy and lymphadenitis is rarely made. Inflammation of the lymphatic vessels is also known as lymphangitis. Infectious lymphadenitides affecting lymph nodes in the neck are often called scrofula. The term comes from the word lymph and a combination of the Greek words αδένας, adenas (gland) and παθεία, patheia (act of suffering or disease). Lymph nodes, in conjunction with the spleen, tonsils, adenoids, and Peyer patches, are highly organized centers of immune cells that filter antigen from the extracellular fluid. Directly interior to the fibrous capsule is the subcapsular sinus.  Lymphadenopathy. Lymphadenopathy is the term for swelling of the lymph nodes-the bean-shaped organs found in the underarm, groin, neck, chest, and abdomen that act as filters for the lymph fluid as it circulates through the body. 1  About this Condition. The following are the most common symptoms of lymphadenopathy: Swollen, enlarged lumps in the neck, back of the head, or other locations of lymph nodes. Tenderness of the nodes, although the nodes may not be painful if the child is no longer ill. The most common lymph nodes that you might notice as enlarged are located in the groin, neck, armpit, under the jaw, and behind the ears. An enlarged lymph node can be painless or tender and can be firm or soft, fixed or freely moveable, depending on the cause of the enlargement. Find an Infectious Disease Specialist. Specific lymph nodes are associated with specific areas of the body, and the enlargement of a particular lymph node can suggest where an infection might be located. A sore throat, for example, will often result in enlargement of the lymph nodes in your neck. Widespread lymph node enlargement can occur with some generalized infections, and adenopathy may be a result of serious infections, such as HIV Although the finding of lymphadenopathy sometimes raises fears about serious illness, it is, in patients seen in primary care settings, usually a result of benign infectious causes. Most patients can be diagnosed on the basis of a careful history and physical examination.  1 Lymphadenopathy mediastinal – An enlargement of the lymph nodes. 2  Pericardial cyst – A benign growth that results from an out-pouching of the pericardium (the heart’s lining). 3  Thyroid mass mediastinal – Usually a benign growth, such as a goiter. 4  These types of tumors can occasionally be cancerous. Middle mediastinum. 1  Bronchogenic cyst – A benign growth with respiratory origins. 2  Lymphadenopathy mediastinal – An enlargement of the lymph nodes. 3 Lymphadenopathy can occur in just one area of the body, such as the neck, or it may be generalized, with lymph node enlargement in several areas. The cervical lymph nodes found in the neck are the most common site of lymphadenopathy. The following are the most common symptoms of lymphadenopathy: Swollen, enlarged lumps in the neck, back of the head, or other locations of lymph nodes. Tenderness of the nodes, although the nodes may not be painful if the child is no longer ill. Mediastinal lymphadenopathy or mediastinal adenopathy is an enlargement of the mediastinal lymph nodes. 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lymphadenopathy http://misc.medscape.com/pi/android/medscapeapp/html/A956340-business.html http://www.massgeneral.org/conditions/condition.aspx?id=623 http://www.healthgrades.com/conditions/adenopathy http://www.aafp.org/afp/1998/1015/p1313.html http://my.clevelandclinic.org/services/heart/disorders/hic_mediastinal_tumors http://www.massgeneral.org/conditions/condition.aspx?id=623 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mediastinal_lymphadenopathy
what is persistent mediastinal lymphadenopathy