Swollen Armpits, Fluid-filled, Not Lymph Nodes. What Is The Issue?

Posted on Tue, 4 Sep 2012

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Tue, 4 Sep 2012 Answered on

Mon, 24 Sep 2012 Last reviewed on

Question : I recently visited an old girlfriend that I hadn't seen in 15 years....she was still as beautiful as ever even with the much heavier weight but I noticed that her armpits are grossly swolen like almost a small breast in each one. we didn't talk about it but I am a retired XXXXXXX Firefighter and EMT and I have never seen this symptom. They didn't seem like lymph nodes because they were fluid filled...I am concerned and I can't find any photos on the web of her symptoms...Can you help me identify what the issue is so I can get her treated .

Answered by Dr. Anil Grover (57 minutes later)

Hi there,
Thanks for writing in.
I am a medical specialist with an additional degree in Cardiology. I read your mail with diligence. I have great respect for Firefighters of the US so please accept my Greetings first. Coming back to your if go through causes of swelling in arm pits first and foremost to the least common are listed below:
1. Lymph nodes usually solid however with necrosis in them or if they get infected
2. Lymph nodes with fluid in these as you described. She might be under treatment.
3. Axillary artery aneurysm usually or almost invariably on one side. One syndrome
4. Osler Rendu Weber Syndrom can have multiple aneurysm so you can have bilateral
5. Ant bites and tattoos in the drainage area of armpit lymph nodes which means both arms.

These are the known causes. If you have any further query, I will be most happy to answer at the soonest.

With best wishes.
Dr Anil Grover,
Medical Specialist & Cardiologist
M.B.;B.S, M.D. (Internal Medicine) D.M.(Cardiology)
http://www/ WWW.WWWW.WW

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar