Clinical and Laboratory Studies

Lymph Nodes in Hidradenitis Suppurativa
Ximena Wortsman^a, Jean Revuz^b, Gregor B.E. Jemec<sup>c

a</sup>Radiology Department, Hospital del Profesor and Clínica Servet, Santiago de Chile, Chile;
^bDepartment of Dermatology, Henri Mondor Hospital, Paris, France;
^cDepartment of Dermatology, Health Sciences Faculty, University of Copenhagen, Roskilde Hospital, Roskilde, Denmark

Address of Corresponding Author

Dermatology 2009;219:22-24 (DOI: 10.1159/000213064)

  Key Words

• Hidradenitis suppurativa
• Lymph node ultrasound
• Lymph node palpation

  Abstract

Background: Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is an inflammatory disease, and yet palpable lymph nodes are rarely found. This may be due to lack of lymph node swelling or to the inability to palpate lymph node regions due to overlying disease. Ultrasound was used to identify and measure regional lymph nodes in HS patients. Methods: High-resolution ultrasound scanning was carried out with compact linear 15-7 MHz and linear 12-5 MHz probes in both axillae and inguinal regions following informed consent. Results: A total of 198 lymph nodes were identified in 6 HS patients in Hurley stage II and 4 in stage III, and 101 from regional control scans in healthy controls. All the lymph nodes in both HS patients and controls showed a normal oval shape, with a hypoechoic rim and a hyperechoic center, and all were located in the deep subcutaneous tissue. The overall mean lymph node number per region was not significantly different. The overall mean lymph node diameter was not significantly different, but in patients with Hurley stage III disease it was significantly increased (1.3 ± 0.4 cm, p = 0.03). Conclusion: Lymph node involvement only occurs with late-stage HS and may therefore reflect secondary infection rather than primary etiological involvement.

Copyright © 2009 S. Karger AG, Basel

  Author Contacts

Gregor B.E. Jemec, MD, DMSc
Department of Dermatology, Health Sciences Faculty, University of Copenhagen
Roskilde Hospital
DK-4000 Roskilde (Denmark)
Tel. +45 4732 2600, Fax +45 4732 2699, E-Mail gbj@regionsjaelland.dk

  Article Information

Received: November 6, 2008
Accepted: December 30, 2008
Published online: April 10, 2009
Number of Print Pages : 3
Number of Figures : 0, Number of Tables : 0, Number of References : 15