Character: Granulomatous inflammation leading to calcified lymph nodes.
Imaging Findings:Calcified lymph nodes in the mediastinum or hilar region, often with a well-defined appearance.
Inflammation:
Sarcoidosis:
Character: A granulomatous disease that often results in eggshell calcification of lymph nodes.
Imaging Findings:Hilar and mediastinal lymph nodes with eggshell calcification, a hallmark of sarcoidosis.
Neoplasm (Benign or Malignant):
Lymphoma:
Character: Can result in calcified nodes due to necrosis or fibrotic changes.
Imaging Findings: Lymph nodes with central calcification, although more often non-calcified.
Metastatic Disease:
Character: Lymph node calcification in metastatic disease is usually peripheral and associated with specific malignancies like papillary thyroid carcinoma.
Imaging Findings:Peripheral calcification in mediastinal or supraclavicular nodes, possibly from a primary tumor like thyroid carcinoma.
Metabolic:
Amyloidosis:
Character: Rarely, amyloid deposition can cause calcification in lymph nodes.
Iatrogenic:
Post-radiation changes:
Character: Radiation therapy to the chest or mediastinum can cause lymph node calcification due to fibrosis or necrosis.
Imaging Findings:Calcified lymph nodes following radiation, often seen in patients treated for lung cancer or lymphoma.
Recommendations:
Not usually necessary but if malignant disease suspected .
Biopsy or fine needle aspiration (FNA) may be required if malignancy is suspected or the cause of calcification is unclear.
Laboratory testing:
Blood tests to evaluate fo
infections (e.g., CBC, tuberculin skin test), autoimmune markers (for sarcoidosis), or cancer screening (e.g., thyroid function tests).