Necrosis in lymph nodes

When necrosis is identified in a lymph node biopsy, various entities should be considered in the differential diagnosis. Neoplastic conditions, especially lymphoma and metastatic carcinoma, must first be excluded. Numerous benign conditions also cause necrosis in lymph nodes, and the presence or absence of granulomatous inflammation as well as other histologic features are useful in suggesting various possibilities. Clinical information is very important in the differential diagnosis, and lymph node culture or other tests are often required to determine a specific diagnosis.