At 28, Michael Jackson’s daughter is preparing to release her new album Teenage Drama. But this weekend, it was for a completely different reason that the artist was talked about.
After posting a video on Instagram recalling her homeschooling years, the young woman was bombarded with comments pointing out the “weird” appearance of her neck.
Paris Jackson reassures her fans after an emergency neck ultrasound
Faced with the remarks, Paris Jackson confessed to having “panicked”. To the point of having a specialist come directly to his rehearsal studio to perform an ultrasound of his throat and lymph nodes.
Fortunately, his exams and blood test revealed no abnormalities, other than a slight redness of the vocal cords.
The singer concluded that this muscle volume was simply the result of her years of singing practice. A phenomenon all the more visible as it is particularly thin.
What is a ganglion and what is its role in the body?
The alert experienced by Paris Jackson highlights the role of lymph nodes. They are often palpable in the neck, armpits or groin. These small organs are real sentinels of our immune system. They function as filters responsible for cleaning the lymph and trapping viruses, bacteria or tumor cells.
As Dr Gérald Kierzek, medical director of True Medical, points out, “these are secondary organs of the lymphatic system, arranged in real monitoring stations throughout the body”.
If the body is attacked, these nodes become activated and produce antibodies to fight the infection. It is this immune mobilization that causes them to increase in volume, a phenomenon medically called reactive lymphadenopathy.
Swollen lymph nodes: when should you worry?
Feeling a small lump under the skin is a common experience, most often linked to a benign infection (cold, sore throat, tooth abscess). However, certain characteristics of a swollen lymph node should lead you to consult a doctor without delay in order to rule out a more serious cause, such as lymphoma or tumor disease.
According to our expert, vigilance is required when faced with specific clinical criteria.
“Finally, an isolated, asymmetrical or rapidly enlarging lymph node requires a medical examination in order to rule out more serious causes such as lymphoma, cancer or certain chronic infections such as tuberculosis.warns Dr. Gérald Kierzek. Generally speaking, a lymph node becomes suspicious if it measures more than one centimeter, if it is hard and fixed under the fingers, if it turns out to be completely painless or if it persists for more than three weeks.
Areas to monitor closely and exams to perform
Not all lymph node locations are equal. While swelling under the jaw is common with an ENT infection, other areas require immediate medical attention. This is the case for the lymph nodes located just above the clavicle. “Their increase in volume is often very suspicious, potentially revealing a deep-seated cancer. warns Dr. Gérald Kierzek.
The areas behind the knee, above the elbow or persistent axillary lymph nodes (armpits) are also among the locations to monitor.
To determine the exact origin of the lymphadenopathy and not confuse it with a cyst or a lipoma, the general practitioner may request additional examinations: blood test, ultrasound or MRI. If malignancy is suspected, a puncture or biopsy will be essential to analyze the cells. “In case of doubt, it is better to consult too early than too late: in the majority of situations, the diagnosis is reassuring… and when a problem exists, early identification changes everything.”concludes Dr Gérald Kierzek.