At times, we find it difficult to clearly differentiate between a swollen lymph node and a tumor. This is because they tend to look very similar that you can easily conclude that both are the same. Lymph nodes are also a part of our immune system, and they are located in different parts of our body. Lymph nodes contain macrophages and lymphocytes that help in fighting diseases or infections.
However, the swelling of the lymph nodes means they are fighting certain diseases or infections in our body. The lymphocytes in them multiply very rapidly, and that is how a swollen lymph node is formed. A tumor, on the other hand, is an abnormal growth of any part of the body, which looks like a mass of tissue. A tumor is most times seen as cancer, but this is not true. A tumor could be a very critical health issue if it is a malignant tumor, whereas a benign tumor won't pose any serious problem.