What Causes a Gland in the Neck to Become Swollen?
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Infection
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A swollen "gland" in the neck is not actually a gland but is instead an example of a swollen lymph node. Because the lymph nodes are small organs that are involved in the immune system, the most common cause of a swollen lymph node is an infection. The most common kind of infection that can cause a swollen lymph node is a viral infection, such as the common cold or the flu. Other infectious agents can cause swollen lymph nodes as well, such as strep throat, the measles, mumps, mononucleosis and ear infections. Other, more rare infections that can cause swollen lymph nodes include cat scratch fever, some sexually transmitted diseases (such as syphilis), tuberculosis and toxoplasmosis.
Immune Disorders
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Because the lymph nodes are a part of the immune system, disorders that involve the immune system (known as autoimmune disorders) can cause swollen lymph nodes as well. Autoimmune disorders are diseases in which the immune system becomes aberrantly activated against normal healthy tissue. Examples of autoimmune disorders that can cause swollen lymph nodes include lupus (in which the immune system attacks the joints, blood vessels and skin, as well as the heart and lungs), rheumatoid arthritis (immune system attacks the tissue that lines the joints, known as the synovium). The lymph nodes can also become swollen in response to an HIV infection, which also affects the immune system.
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Cancers
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One, more serious cause of swollen lymph nodes, is the development of cancer within the lymph nodes. One type of cancer that can affect the lymph nodes is lymphoma, which is literally a cancer of the lymph nodes. Another example is leukemia, which is a cancer of the bone marrow. However, because the bone marrow makes cells that are involved in the immune system, cancer of the bone marrow can lead to swollen lymph nodes. Finally, because almost all tissues in the body are connected to the lymph system (of which the lymph nodes are a part), the lymph nodes are a common site of cancer spread (metastasis).
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