Imaging of Cervical Lymphadenopathy in Children and Young Adults

OBJECTIVE: This article describes the role of imaging in evaluating cervical lymphadenopathy in patients from birth to their mid-20s, illustrates imaging features of normal and abnormal lymph nodes, and highlights nodal imaging features and head and neck findings that assist in diagnosis. CONCLUSION: Cervical lymph node abnormalities are commonly encountered clinically and on imaging in children and young adults. Although imaging findings can lack specificity, nodal characteristics and associated head and neck imaging findings can assist in determining the underlying cause.