Why does my friend have enlarged lymph nodes?

Q: My 27 years old friend has small lymph nodes in the neck for the last two to three month and they have got swollen and turned red now. The doctor has prescribed her antibiotics and done fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC). The FNAC done two months back showed infection and nothing else. I am worried. Is she suffering from lymphoma?

A:Infection is the commonest reason for enlarged lymph nodes – reactive lymph node enlargement. The FNAC would give you an idea. If it is unclear, repeat the FNAC. Finally, excision of the node for pathology/microbiology would be confirmative - if your doctor has enough clinical reason to suggest that.