Not all potential reasons for enlargement are cancerous
Retroperitoneallymph nodesare located in the abdominal cavity.
They can be found immediately behind the part of the intestine closer to your backbone than your belly button.
The swelling of the nodes is referred to aslymphadenopathy.
Verywell / Gary Ferster
Not all causes of enlarged retroperitoneal lymph nodes are cancerous.
In fact, in most cases, cancer is the last concern.
Still, there are specific patterns of enlargement that require more extensive evaluation.
This article discusses the symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and treatment of enlarged lymph nodes.
Some conditions that cause enlarged retroperitoneal lymph nodes may have associated symptoms.
Primary causes arise in the lymph nodes themselves.
Secondary causes are related to other conditions in nearby organs.
This means they happen because of a disease or disorder affecting an organ within or near the retroperitoneum.
For instance, the ureters carry urine from the kidney to the bladder.
When this happens, retroperitoneal lymphadenopathy will almost always occur.
Cancers
Cancer is clearly the most concerning cause of retroperitoneal lymphadenopathy.
Two of the most common malignancies associated with this arelymphomaandtesticular cancer.
Lymphoma
Lymphomas are a group of cancers that are consideredlymphoproliferative.
This means they cause excessive production of white blood cells calledlymphocytes.
Lymphomas usually start in the lymph nodes, typically the retroperitoneal lymph nodes.
Still, there are some red flags healthcare providers will look for.
Certain patterns of enlargement are worrisome.
With HL, the pattern of enlargement typically moves from one lymph node group to the next.
With NHL, the distribution is more scattered.
It may involve distant lymph nodes and organ systems, primarily the gastrointestinal tract.
For example, tuberculosis is typically treated with a combination of antibiotics.
Retroperitoneal lymph nodes can be removed if the cause of the enlargement is metastatic cancer.
This is done during an operation called a retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RPLND).
During RPLND, the retroperitoneal lymph nodes are removed through an incision in the abdomen.
The procedure is done under general anesthesia, which means you will be in a sleep-like state.
It usually takes 3.5 to 5 hours.
Summary
Retroperitoneal lymph nodes are located in the abdomen.
They may become enlarged because of primary or secondary causes.
Primary causes include things like infections or cancers that develop in the lymph nodes.
Secondary causes include conditions affecting nearby organs like the kidneys or pancreas.
To treat enlarged retroperitoneal lymph nodes, healthcare providers typically treat the underlying cause.
Sometimes enlarged retroperitoneal lymph nodes happen when cancer spreads from another part of the body.
This is a less common cause of this condition.
It can also be used to diagnose stages of cancer.
The procedure is called a retroperitoneal lymph node dissection.
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