What is cervical adenopathy?

Cervical lymphadenopathy is an abnormal swelling or enlargement of the lymph nodes in the neck. Lymphadenopathy can be caused by a bacterial or viral infection, malignancy or an autoimmune disease.

As explained by MedicineNet, lymph nodes are small bean-shaped organs of the lymphatic system, distributed throughout the body and linked by lymphatic vessels. Lymph nodes are mostly clustered in the neck, armpits, chest and groin. Lymph nodes are major sites for immunity cells, and act as filters or traps for foreign particles invading the body. The lymphatic system is structured to address biological infections, as well as biological breakdowns or errors within the body, such as cancer.