[Infectious lymphadenitis]

Infectious lymphadenitis is often biopsied in the differential diagnoses of malignant disease. Since the repertoire of lymph nodes which react to exogenous stimuli is limited, malignant lymphomas may enter the clinical and morphological differential diagnosis. In a morphological sense, infectious lymphadenitis is defined as an infection of lymph node tissue. Therefore, the effector phase of the inflammatory reaction will act against lymphatic tissue, in contrast to common physiological hyperplasia. Follicular reactions, in addition to follicular hyperplasia, are seen in HIV-associated lymphadenopathy. Other viruses, such as infectious mononucleosis, give rise to a cytotoxic T-cell reaction. Most infections, however, induce a histiocytic reaction; depending on the microorganism, this varies morphologically from a small clustered epithelioid cell reaction or histiocytic abscesses to epithelioid necrotizing granulomata.