Differential Diagnosis
- Single most likely diagnosis
- Anxiety disorder with somatic symptoms: The patient's severe health anxiety and concern about a belly button mole being melanoma, despite no diagnosis, suggests a psychological component to her presentation. The presence of palpable lymph nodes in the elbow and neck, without other symptoms, may be exacerbated or perceived as more significant due to her anxiety.
- Other Likely diagnoses
- Benign lymphadenopathy: The presence of palpable lymph nodes in the neck and elbow without other symptoms such as fever, weight loss, or localized infection could be due to a benign, self-limiting condition.
- Reactive lymphadenopathy: This could be a reaction to a minor infection or inflammation somewhere in the body, not necessarily related to the belly button mole.
- Do Not Miss (ddxs that may not be likely, but would be deadly if missed.)
- Lymphoma: Although less likely, lymphoma could present with palpable lymphadenopathy in multiple regions, including the neck and elbow. It's crucial to consider this diagnosis due to its potential severity and the need for early intervention.
- Metastatic cancer: If the belly button mole were indeed melanoma (which is not diagnosed), and there were metastases, it could potentially involve lymph nodes in various parts of the body. However, the pattern of involvement (elbow and neck without groin) would be unusual for melanoma metastasis.
- Systemic infection (e.g., tuberculosis, HIV): These conditions can cause generalized lymphadenopathy and would require specific testing for diagnosis.
- Rare diagnoses
- Sarcoidosis: A systemic disease that can cause lymphadenopathy among other symptoms, though it would typically be accompanied by other systemic or pulmonary findings.
- Other rare lymphoproliferative disorders: Conditions like Castleman disease could present with lymphadenopathy, though they are much less common and would likely be accompanied by other symptoms.