How can one differentiate reactive lymph nodes from normal lymph nodes?

Differentiating reactive lymph nodes from normal lymph nodes often involves observing the presence and type of immune cells present in the tissues. In reactive lymph nodes, there is usually an increase in plasma cells, as they are responsible for producing antibodies in response to infections or inflammation. The presence of a higher number of plasma cells indicates an active immune response, which is a hallmark of lymphoid tissue undergoing reactive hyperplasia.

In normal lymph nodes, the cellular composition remains stable, with a predominantly balanced population of small lymphocytes, which are the primary immune cells found in these tissues. The other choices involve situations that either reflect normal immune processes or indicate different conditions but do not specifically capture the essence of what characterizes reactive lymph nodes.

For instance, while increased small lymphocytes might occur in some cases, it is not specific for reactive lymph nodes. A decrease in white blood cells suggests an impaired immune response, which is not typical in the context of reactive lymph nodes, where the immune response is enhanced. Lastly, an increased number of neutrophils might be seen in acute infections or inflammation, but this does not specifically distinguish between normal and reactive lymph nodes, which are primarily assessed based on plasma cell increase.

Thus, the presence of increased numbers of plasma cells