Posterior Cervical Lymph Nodes

The posterior cervical lymph nodes are located on the neck. This group of lymph nodes on the neck are responsible for draining and filtering lymphatic fluid from different areas of the head and neck. As with all lymph nodes on the body, the lymph node’s job is to filter debris like bacteria, cancer cells, viruses, and anything else that shouldn’t be circulating through your body.

Lymph nodes on the body can swell up for a number of different reasons. A small percentage of lymph node enlargements are for no known reason. Most swelling can be linked to a cause, though. Some causes are simple and will pass; others causes of lymph node swelling are serious and will need medical treatment. The following are some causes of posterior cervical lymph node swelling and enlargement:

• Underside of the jaw (submandibular lymph node) - sinus infection, infections of head, eye infection, infected ear/s, infection of neck, scalp infection, pharynx infection, allergies
• On neck by jaw (jugular lymph node) - Pharyngitis, rubella (German measles)
• Below chin (submental lymph node) - Ebstein-Barr virus, mononucleosis, dental infection or inflammation (like periodontitis), cytomegalovirus (herpes), toxoplasmosis (infection from parasite)
• Between back of neck and head (suboccipital lymph node) - localized infection of scalp or head
• Behind ears (postauricular lymph node) - localized infection of ears or scalp
• In front of ears (preauricular lymph node) - infection of eyelids(including mucus membrane), temporal region infection, ear infection
• Hollow above clavicle on right side (right supraclavicular lymph node) - lung infection, retroperitoneal cancer, gastrointestinal cancer
• Hollow above clavicle on left side (left supraclavicular lymph node) - bacterial infection, fungal infection, lymphoma, thoracic cancer, retroperitoneal cancer

Only a health care professional can diagnose the cause of swelled or enlarged posterior cervical lymph nodes. When an infection is the cause, the lymph node should return to normal size when the infection is gone. Including the incubation stage, most infections run their course in about 10-14 days.

When a posterior cervical lymph node is swollen due to cancer, the cancer will be treated. In addition, a biopsy of the lymph node may be performed and if needed, the lymph node or nodes will be removed. When cancer has spread to the lymph nodes it changes the diagnosis of which stage the cancer is in and how the cancer is treated. In the event that a doctor wants to remove the lymph nodes be sure to get all the information on alternatives and long term affects of the lymphatic system flow having an interruption in the area where the lymph node will be removed. A second opinion may be worth the cost.

Most of the time a swollen posterior cervical lymph node is just a sign that your body is doing what it is designed to do; locate, isolate, and eliminate infection in the body. The body is very proficient in its job. In the rare event the enlarged posterior cervical lymph nodes is a sign of something more serious or even life threatening, it is best to receive prompt treatment from a health care professional to have the best outcome of treatment.

Neck Lymph Node

Learn about Neck And Head Lymph Node.