Lymph Node Pathology Course

Lesson 1 • Regional Lymph Node Distribution

Maps major lymph node groups by body region and their drainage territories. Enables clinicians to correlate node location with potential pathology sources.

Lesson 2 • Lymphatic System Overview

Introduces the lymphatic network's components and its relationship to the circulatory system. Establishes the anatomical baseline needed for all subsequent disorder analysis.

Lesson 3 • Immunological Functions of Lymph Nodes

Explains antigen presentation, B-cell and T-cell activation, and germinal centre reactions. Links normal immune function to the pathological alterations seen in disorders.

Lesson 1 • Autoimmune and Inflammatory Disorders

Covers lymphadenopathy arising from systemic autoimmune and inflammatory conditions. Highlights how immune dysregulation produces distinct histological and clinical presentations.

Lesson 2 • Reactive vs. Neoplastic Enlargement

Distinguishes benign reactive hyperplasia from malignant neoplastic processes. Provides the primary diagnostic fork that guides all subsequent workup decisions.

Lesson 3 • Malignant Lymph Node Disorders

Introduces primary lymphomas and metastatic carcinomas as the two major malignant categories. Establishes the conceptual basis for the detailed oncological chapters that follow.

Lesson 4 • Infectious Causes of Lymphadenopathy

Surveys bacterial, viral, fungal, and parasitic agents that cause lymph node enlargement. Connects pathogen biology to characteristic node changes observed clinically.

Lesson 1 • Risk Stratification and Red Flags

Defines clinical features that indicate high probability of malignancy or serious infection. Enables timely escalation and prevents under-investigation of dangerous presentations.

Lesson 2 • Differential Diagnosis Construction

Applies a structured approach to building and prioritising a differential diagnosis list. Integrates history and examination findings into a ranked probability framework.

Lesson 3 • Physical Examination Techniques

Teaches palpation technique, node characterisation, and systematic regional examination. Accurate physical findings directly inform differential diagnosis and urgency of workup.

Lesson 1 • Laboratory Investigations

Covers blood counts, inflammatory markers, serology, and microbiological tests relevant to lymphadenopathy. Connects test selection to specific differential diagnoses generated in clinical evaluation.

Lesson 2 • Cross-Sectional Imaging Modalities

Addresses CT, MRI, and PET-CT roles in staging and characterising lymph node disease. Builds competency in selecting the appropriate modality based on clinical context.

Lesson 3 • Integrating Investigations into a Workup Plan

Teaches a stepwise, cost-effective approach to sequencing investigations. Students construct complete workup plans that avoid redundancy and minimise patient burden.

Lesson 1 • Pathology Reporting and Communication

Teaches structured pathology report elements and effective communication with clinical teams. Standardised reporting reduces misinterpretation and supports multidisciplinary decision-making.

Lesson 2 • Immunohistochemistry and Ancillary Testing

Explains immunohistochemical panels, flow cytometry, cytogenetics, and molecular assays used in lymph node diagnosis. Ancillary tests refine morphological diagnoses and guide treatment selection.

Lesson 3 • Reactive Histopathological Patterns

Identifies follicular hyperplasia, paracortical expansion, sinus histiocytosis, and granulomatous patterns. Recognizing reactive patterns prevents misdiagnosis of benign conditions as malignant.

Lesson 4 • Lymphoma Histopathology

Covers the morphological features of major Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma subtypes. Accurate morphological recognition is the foundation for immunophenotyping and molecular testing.

Lesson 1 • Lymphoma Staging Systems

Explains the Ann Arbor and Lugano staging systems and their clinical application. Accurate staging determines prognosis and drives treatment intensity decisions.

Lesson 2 • Hodgkin Lymphoma Treatment

Covers chemotherapy regimens, radiation field design, and response-adapted strategies for Hodgkin lymphoma. Builds understanding of how stage and risk group dictate treatment selection.

Lesson 3 • Response Assessment and Follow-Up

Teaches Lugano response criteria, surveillance imaging schedules, and late-effects monitoring. Systematic follow-up detects relapse early and manages treatment-related toxicity.

Lesson 4 • Targeted and Novel Therapies

Introduces BTK inhibitors, BCL-2 inhibitors, checkpoint inhibitors, and CAR-T cell therapy in lymphoma. Connects molecular targets identified in pathology to specific therapeutic agents.

Lesson 1 • Surgical Management of Nodal Disease

Addresses sentinel node biopsy, selective neck dissection, and axillary clearance indications. Surgical decision-making balances oncological control against lymphoedema and morbidity risk.

Lesson 2 • Mechanisms of Nodal Metastasis

Explains lymphatic spread, sentinel node biology, and factors influencing metastatic efficiency. Understanding spread mechanisms informs surgical and oncological management strategies.

Lesson 3 • Nodal Staging in Common Solid Tumours

Covers nodal staging criteria for breast, colorectal, lung, and head-and-neck cancers. Accurate nodal staging is the primary determinant of treatment intent and surgical extent.

Lesson 1 • Lymphadenopathy in HIV and Immunocompromised Patients

Covers the broad differential in HIV-positive and immunosuppressed patients, including opportunistic infections and AIDS-defining malignancies. Immune status profoundly alters both the differential and the diagnostic approach.

Lesson 2 • Lymphadenopathy in Pregnancy

Identifies safe diagnostic approaches and treatment modifications for lymphadenopathy during pregnancy. Balancing maternal and fetal safety requires knowledge of radiation limits and drug teratogenicity.

Lesson 3 • Recurrent and Refractory Lymphoma

Addresses salvage chemotherapy, stem cell transplantation, and novel agents for relapsed or refractory lymphoma. Managing treatment failure requires knowledge of resistance mechanisms and escalation options.

Lesson 4 • Lymphadenopathy in Children

Addresses the distinct aetiology spectrum, age-specific normal node sizes, and biopsy thresholds in paediatric patients. Paediatric presentations differ substantially from adult patterns and require tailored evaluation.