CT assessment of axillary lymphadenopathy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: association with disease activity and severity

Background Axillary lymph nodes (ALNs) are often seen on chest computed tomography (CT) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. Early reports described lymphadenopathy as one of the systemic manifestations rather than regional lymphadenopathy secondary to drainage from the affected joints. Subsequently, the importance of the immunological events occurring in draining lymph nodes in the development of arthritis was documented.