Traumatic Haemorrhagic Cervical Lymphadenopathy with Underlying Infectious Mononucleosis.

Area of Science:

• Medicine
• Pathology
• Trauma Care

Background:

• Blunt neck trauma can cause various injuries, including soft tissue swelling and lymph node abnormalities.
• Infectious mononucleosis, typically caused by Epstein-Barr virus, often presents with lymphadenopathy, fever, and fatigue.
• Cervical lymphadenopathy is a common finding, but traumatic hemorrhagic presentation is rare.

Observation:

• A 16-year-old male experienced acute, painful left-sided neck swelling after blunt neck trauma.
• CT angiography revealed a large hemorrhagic lymph node and generalized cervical lymphadenopathy.
• The patient's symptoms were ultimately attributed to infectious mononucleosis.

Findings:

• The study presents a rare instance of traumatic hemorrhagic cervical lymphadenopathy.
• Infectious mononucleosis was identified as the underlying cause of the lymph node hemorrhage and swelling.
• This case underscores the importance of considering infectious etiologies even after trauma.

Implications:

• This case highlights a rare but possible complication of blunt neck trauma in the context of infectious mononucleosis.
• Clinicians should consider infectious mononucleosis in the differential diagnosis of acute cervical lymphadenopathy following trauma.
• Further investigation into the interaction between trauma and viral infections may be warranted.