Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat They AreHow They LookCauses of SwellingDiagnosisTreatmentWhen to Seek a Provider
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What They Are
How They Look
Causes of Swelling
Diagnosis
Treatment
When to Seek a Provider
Axillary lymph nodes arelymph nodeslocated in the armpit that can become swollen if you have an infection, autoimmune disease, or cancer.
The condition, known asaxillary lymphadenopathy, may be the result of something as simple as the flu or a recent vaccination. However, if the swelling persists or worsens, It may be a sign of something more serious, likelymphomaorbreast cancer.
Axillary lymph nodes can also play an important role inbreast cancer stagingas they are the first place cancer will go once it spreads.
During breast surgery, some axillary nodes are removed along with the tumor to see if there is any cancer in them. The absence or presence of cancer will help determine how early or advanced the cancer is and direct the appropriate course of treatment.
Pongsak Tawansaeng / EyeEm / Getty Images
What Are Axillary Lymph Nodes and Why Do They Swell?
Lymph nodes are part of thelymphatic system. This is a system made up of vessels, fluids, and organs that filter toxins and disease-causing organisms (pathogens) from the body.
These include organs called lymph nodes that are situated in clusters in strategic parts of the body, including the neck, chest, groin, collarbone, and armpits. These pea-sized organs trap bacteria, viruses, cancer, and other pathogens, confining and neutralizing them with defensive white blood cells calledlymphocytes.
Axillary lymph nodes are those situated in the armpits. There are anywhere from 20 to 40 in each armpit that filter fluid driving from the sides of the breast, the arms, the chest wall, and the abdomen above the navel.
Axillary lymphadenopathy may be due to a local infection affecting the breast, chest, arms, or upper abdomen. It could also be due to a systemic (whole-body) disease that causes other lymph nodes in the body to swell.
Symptoms of Axillary Lymphadenopathy
Axillary lymphadenopathy can vary significantly based on the underlying cause. The symptoms and pattern of swelling can often suggest which type of disease is involved, whether it be systemic or localized, infectious or non-infectious, orbenign(non-cancerous) ormalignant(cancerous).
Swollen axillary lymph nodes may either be:
Accompanying symptoms may also provide clues as to the underlying cause, including:
The presence or absence of these symptoms can help point your healthcare provider in the direction of the most likely causes.
Causes of Axillary Lymph Nodes
There are many reasons why your axillary lymph nodes may be swollen, both serious and non-serious. Certain symptoms may provide clues, but additional testing may be needed to confirm the suspicions.
The cause of axillary lymphadenopathy can be broadly categorized as being infectious, non-infectious, and cancerous.
Respiratory Infections
Any severe respiratory infection—includinginfluenza (flu),COVID-19.pneumonia, ortuberculosis—can cause axillary lymphadenopathy.
Although the swelling may be confined initially to the lymph nodes of the neck (called cervical lymph nodes), it can progress to the armpits as the infection moves toward the chest and lower respiratory tract.
Infectious Mononucleosis
Other symptoms of mono include:
Mono is a self-limiting infection that can take a month or longer to fully resolve.
Skin Infections
Skin infections acquired in the hospital, includingmethicillin-resistantStaphylococcus aureus(MRSA), can sometimes occur after surgery. Those involving the chest, shoulder, or arm can cause axillary lymphadenopathy.
HIV
HIVis a chronic viral infection that causes the progressive deterioration of the immune system. During the early stage of infection where the virus is rapidly replicating, often-extreme generalized lymphadenopathy can develop.
This stage of infection, known asacute seroconversion, can manifest visibly swollen lymph nodes, typically painful and occurring on both sides of the body.
Other symptoms of acute seroconversion include:
Acute seroconversion typically lasts a week or two until the immune system starts to rein in the infection. Even so, the lymphadenopathy can persist for weeks and even months longer.
Cat Scratch Fever
With CSD, the hand or arm is the most common site of exposure. As the infection spreads, it can cause unilateral swelling of the axillary lymph nodes nearest the wound.
Other symptoms of cat scratch fever include:
Lyme Disease
Lyme disease symptoms usually begin three to 30 days after you’ve been bitten and may also include:
Left untreated, the symptoms can worsen leading toheart palpitations, chest pain, trouble breathing, slowed heartbeat, muscle weakness, and shooting pain. In severe cases,facial palsyandmeningitiscan develop.
Autoimmune Diseases
Autoimmune diseasesare those in which the immune system targets and attacks normal tissues with inflammation. Lymphadenopathy is common with autoimmune diseases that cause systemic inflammation, leading to the bilateral swelling of lymph nodes in the armpits and other parts of the body.
The autoimmune diseases associated with bilateral axillary lymphadenopathy include:
Blood Cancers
Leukemia starts in the bone marrow, causing the production of abnormal white blood cells called leukemic cells. When trapped in lymph nodes, these cells trigger an inflammatory response that causes lymphadenopathy in the neck, armpit, groin, and collarbone.
Lymphoma affects the lymphatic system, including the lymph nodes, spleen, and thymus gland.Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL)can arise in lymph nodes anywhere in the body, causing an erratic pattern of swelling,Hodgkin lymphoma (HL)typically starts in the neck, chest, or armpits and follows a more predictable pattern.
Leukemia and lymphoma can produce other common symptoms, including:
Leukemia can also cause pale skin,petechiae(red skin spots), bone pain, and easy bleeding or bruising, while lymphoma can cause night sweats, coughing, shortness of breath, and itchy skin.
Breast Cancer
Breast cancer and axillary lymph nodes are inextricably linked. This is because around 75% of lymph fluid from the breast drains into the axillary lymph nodes, making them important in the diagnosis and staging of breast cancer.
When breast cancer is diagnosed, anaxillary lymph node dissectioncan be performed to see if any cancer cells have been trapped. When touched, the lymph nodes will characteristically be painless, hard, irregularly shaped, rubbery, and immovable (although this can vary).
Other symptoms of breast cancer include:
How Is Axillary Lymphadenopathy Diagnosed?
Axillary lymphadenopathy can usually be identified with a physical exam. Your healthcare provider may discover swollen lymph nodes during a routine checkup even if you have no symptoms.
To narrow the possible cause of lymphadenopahty, the healthcare provider will consider several factors, including:
Together, these clues may point to certain conditions and exclude others.
Lab Tests and Procedures
Based on the physical exam and a review of your medical history, your healthcare may order a battery of tests to narrow the underlying causes, including:
Additional tests and evaluations may be ordered based on the findings and suspected causes.
What Size Lymph Node Is Concerning?In adults, axillary lymph nodes are around 2 millimeters in diameter with a soft, oval shape.Those larger than 10 millimeters (0.4 inches or more) are associated with an increased risk of metastatic breast cancer. Other signs include a firm texture and a round or irregular shape.
What Size Lymph Node Is Concerning?
In adults, axillary lymph nodes are around 2 millimeters in diameter with a soft, oval shape.Those larger than 10 millimeters (0.4 inches or more) are associated with an increased risk of metastatic breast cancer. Other signs include a firm texture and a round or irregular shape.
In adults, axillary lymph nodes are around 2 millimeters in diameter with a soft, oval shape.
Those larger than 10 millimeters (0.4 inches or more) are associated with an increased risk of metastatic breast cancer. Other signs include a firm texture and a round or irregular shape.
Swollen Lymph Nodes as a Sign of Cancer
Axillary Lymphadenopathy Treatment
There is no specific treatment for axillary lymphadenopathy other than to treat the underlying cause. These may include treatments likeantibioticsfor bacterial infections,disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs)for autoimmune diseases, orchemotherapy, radiation, and surgery for cancer.
With that said, pain and swelling can be relieved with certain at-home treatments, like:
When to See a Healthcare Provider
It’s best to contact a healthcare provider if the lymph nodes in your armpits seem large and:
Contact a healthcare provider if you are also having fevers, night sweats, or unexplained weight loss in addition to swollen armpit lymph nodes.
Summary
Axillary lymphadenopathy is the swelling of lymph nodes in the armpits. It can occur for many reasons, including infections, vaccination, autoimmune disorders, and cancer.
Axillary lymphadenopathy is not a disease but a symptom of a disease. The treatment is focused on resolving the underlying cause.
To identify the underlying cause, your healthcare provider may order lab tests and imaging studies based on a physical examination and a review of your symptoms and medical history.
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21 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Liao S, von der Weid PY.Lymphatic system: an active pathway for immune protection.Semin Cell Dev Biol. 2015;38:83-89.Gaddey HL, Riegel AM.Unexplained lymphadenopathy: evaluation and differential diagnosis.Am Fam Physician.2016;94(11):896-903.West H, Jin J.Lymph nodes and lymphadenopathy in cancer.JAMA Oncol. 2016;2(7):971. doi:10.1001/jamaoncol.2015.3509Net JM, Mirpuri TM, Plaza MJ, et al.Resident and fellow education feature: US evaluation of axillary lymph nodes.Radiographics. 2014;34(7):1817-1818. doi:10.1148/rg.347140081Zhang M, Ahn RW, Hayes JC, Seiler SJ,, Mootz AR, Porembka JH.Axillary lymphadenopathy in the COVID-19 era: what the radiologist needs to know.Radiographics. 2022 Nov;42(7):1897–1911. doi:10.1148/rg.220045Thompson AE.Infectious mononucleosis.JAMA. 2015;313(11):1180. doi:10.1001/jama.2015.159Sukumaran V, Senanayake S.Bacterial skin and soft tissue infections.Aust Prescr. 2016;39(5):159-163. doi:10.18773/austprescr.2016.058Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About cellulitis.HIV.gov.Symptoms of HIV.HIV.gov.Guidelines for the use of antiretroviral agents in adults and adolescents with HIV.Mazur-Melewska K, Mania A, Kemnitz P, Figlerowicz M, Służewski W.Cat-scratch disease: a wide spectrum of clinical pictures.Postepy Dermatol Alergol.2015 Jun;32(3):216-220. doi:10.5114/pdia.2014.44014Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Tickborne diseases of the United States: Lyme disease.Schwartz N, Chalasani MLS, Li TM, Feng Z, Shipman WD, Lu TT.Lymphatic function in autoimmune diseases.Front Immunol.2019 Mar 20:10:519. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2019.00519Davis AS, Viera AJ, Mead MD.Leukemia: an overview for primary care.Am Fam Physician. 2014;889(9):731-738.American Cancer Society.What is non-Hodgkin lymphoma?American Cancer Society.What is Hodgkin lymphoma?American Cancer Society.Breast cancer signs and symptoms.Dialani V, James DF, Slanetz PJ.A practical approach to imaging the axilla.Insights Imaging.2015 Apr;6(2):217–229. doi:10.1007/s13244-014-0367-8International Agency for Research on Cancer.Atlas of breast cancer early detection.MedlinePlus.Swollen lymph nodes.Medline Plus.Swollen lymph nodes.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Liao S, von der Weid PY.Lymphatic system: an active pathway for immune protection.Semin Cell Dev Biol. 2015;38:83-89.Gaddey HL, Riegel AM.Unexplained lymphadenopathy: evaluation and differential diagnosis.Am Fam Physician.2016;94(11):896-903.West H, Jin J.Lymph nodes and lymphadenopathy in cancer.JAMA Oncol. 2016;2(7):971. doi:10.1001/jamaoncol.2015.3509Net JM, Mirpuri TM, Plaza MJ, et al.Resident and fellow education feature: US evaluation of axillary lymph nodes.Radiographics. 2014;34(7):1817-1818. doi:10.1148/rg.347140081Zhang M, Ahn RW, Hayes JC, Seiler SJ,, Mootz AR, Porembka JH.Axillary lymphadenopathy in the COVID-19 era: what the radiologist needs to know.Radiographics. 2022 Nov;42(7):1897–1911. doi:10.1148/rg.220045Thompson AE.Infectious mononucleosis.JAMA. 2015;313(11):1180. doi:10.1001/jama.2015.159Sukumaran V, Senanayake S.Bacterial skin and soft tissue infections.Aust Prescr. 2016;39(5):159-163. doi:10.18773/austprescr.2016.058Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About cellulitis.HIV.gov.Symptoms of HIV.HIV.gov.Guidelines for the use of antiretroviral agents in adults and adolescents with HIV.Mazur-Melewska K, Mania A, Kemnitz P, Figlerowicz M, Służewski W.Cat-scratch disease: a wide spectrum of clinical pictures.Postepy Dermatol Alergol.2015 Jun;32(3):216-220. doi:10.5114/pdia.2014.44014Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Tickborne diseases of the United States: Lyme disease.Schwartz N, Chalasani MLS, Li TM, Feng Z, Shipman WD, Lu TT.Lymphatic function in autoimmune diseases.Front Immunol.2019 Mar 20:10:519. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2019.00519Davis AS, Viera AJ, Mead MD.Leukemia: an overview for primary care.Am Fam Physician. 2014;889(9):731-738.American Cancer Society.What is non-Hodgkin lymphoma?American Cancer Society.What is Hodgkin lymphoma?American Cancer Society.Breast cancer signs and symptoms.Dialani V, James DF, Slanetz PJ.A practical approach to imaging the axilla.Insights Imaging.2015 Apr;6(2):217–229. doi:10.1007/s13244-014-0367-8International Agency for Research on Cancer.Atlas of breast cancer early detection.MedlinePlus.Swollen lymph nodes.Medline Plus.Swollen lymph nodes.
Liao S, von der Weid PY.Lymphatic system: an active pathway for immune protection.Semin Cell Dev Biol. 2015;38:83-89.
Gaddey HL, Riegel AM.Unexplained lymphadenopathy: evaluation and differential diagnosis.Am Fam Physician.2016;94(11):896-903.
West H, Jin J.Lymph nodes and lymphadenopathy in cancer.JAMA Oncol. 2016;2(7):971. doi:10.1001/jamaoncol.2015.3509
Net JM, Mirpuri TM, Plaza MJ, et al.Resident and fellow education feature: US evaluation of axillary lymph nodes.Radiographics. 2014;34(7):1817-1818. doi:10.1148/rg.347140081
Zhang M, Ahn RW, Hayes JC, Seiler SJ,, Mootz AR, Porembka JH.Axillary lymphadenopathy in the COVID-19 era: what the radiologist needs to know.Radiographics. 2022 Nov;42(7):1897–1911. doi:10.1148/rg.220045
Thompson AE.Infectious mononucleosis.JAMA. 2015;313(11):1180. doi:10.1001/jama.2015.159
Sukumaran V, Senanayake S.Bacterial skin and soft tissue infections.Aust Prescr. 2016;39(5):159-163. doi:10.18773/austprescr.2016.058
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About cellulitis.
HIV.gov.Symptoms of HIV.
HIV.gov.Guidelines for the use of antiretroviral agents in adults and adolescents with HIV.
Mazur-Melewska K, Mania A, Kemnitz P, Figlerowicz M, Służewski W.Cat-scratch disease: a wide spectrum of clinical pictures.Postepy Dermatol Alergol.2015 Jun;32(3):216-220. doi:10.5114/pdia.2014.44014
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Tickborne diseases of the United States: Lyme disease.
Schwartz N, Chalasani MLS, Li TM, Feng Z, Shipman WD, Lu TT.Lymphatic function in autoimmune diseases.Front Immunol.2019 Mar 20:10:519. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2019.00519
Davis AS, Viera AJ, Mead MD.Leukemia: an overview for primary care.Am Fam Physician. 2014;889(9):731-738.
American Cancer Society.What is non-Hodgkin lymphoma?
American Cancer Society.What is Hodgkin lymphoma?
American Cancer Society.Breast cancer signs and symptoms.
Dialani V, James DF, Slanetz PJ.A practical approach to imaging the axilla.Insights Imaging.2015 Apr;6(2):217–229. doi:10.1007/s13244-014-0367-8
International Agency for Research on Cancer.Atlas of breast cancer early detection.
MedlinePlus.Swollen lymph nodes.
Medline Plus.Swollen lymph nodes.
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