Palpable lymph nodes are common in children between 3 and 5 years old. Differential diagnosis of lymphadenopathy varies according to age. Besides this, apart from age there are other guiding parameters for physicians. We aimed to analyze the underlying diagnoses and importance of hepatomegaly and/or splenomegaly for differential diagnosis of lymph nodes in children. Between June 2015 and June 2016, pediatric cases (<18 years) whom were investigated for causes of lymphadenopathy in the Infectious Diseases Outpatient Clinics of Hacettepe University Ihsan Doğramacı Children’s Hospital were enrolled in the present study. Signs and symptoms, investigational studies and final diagnoses of 117 patients were analyzed. Hepatomegaly and/or splenomegaly were detected in 13 patients (Group 1) and 104 patients (Group 2) had no organomegaly. In group 1, seven (53.8%) patients had EBV infection, three (23.1%) patients had malignancy. In group 2, seventeen (16.3%) patients had EBV infection while none of the patients had malignancy. We conclude that for pediatric patients with palpable lymph nodes, presence of hepatomegaly and/or splenomegaly is one of the guiding clues for diagnosis.

Keywords: lymphadenopathy, hepatosplenomegaly