Prevalence of Lymphadenopathy of the Head and Neck in Infants and Children

Abstract

This study demonstrates the widespread prevalence of "normal" adenopathy in children; i.e., not associated with infectious adenitis or serious system illness. The knowledge of this distri bution is helpful in determining when adenopathy may be pathologic. Occipital and postau ricular adenopathy is a common nonspecific finding in infancy; but, over the age of 2 years, it is sufficiently rare that it can be a useful diagnostic finding. Cervical and submandibular nodes are rare in infants under 12 months but are common in older children. Supraclavicular nodes are probably pathologic at any age.