Radiological imaging methods are of grave importance in the diagnosis of lymph node changes, distinguishing between benign and malignant lesions and assessing the extent of malignant process, which directly affects the prognosis and selection of appropriate therapeutic procedure. It is important to know the characteristics of malignant lesions, as well as physiological processes, and characteristics of benign lymph node lesions in order to discriminate between the two. Unfortunately, the manifestations of benign and malignant lesions often overlap, and a pathohistological examination of a tissue sample, ie a biopsy, is required to make the final diagnosis. The differentiation of benign from malignant changes by radiological methods is aided by a number of guidelines and criteria which, by combining morphological and size characteristics, try to achieve highest possible specificity and sensitivity. This paper will look at the ability of imaging methods in routine use, the most important of which are ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography. With the rapid development of technology, diagnostic possibilities are expanding, and newer methods such as elastography, endoscopic ultrasound, contrast-enhanced ultrasound and the use of USPIO particles in MR imaging are being implemented. The human lymphatic system consists of a complicated network of lymph vessels and nodes that drain individual organs. Lymph node diseases manifest by lymphadenopathy, ie an increase in the size of the node. The lymph node can be affected by infection, resulting in reactive node hyperplasia or a malignant tumor. Neoplasms occur primarily, due to malignant alteration of lymphoid cells or as metastases of distant tumors. Knowledge of the anatomy and drainage pathways of lymph nodes is of great value in assessing the spread of malignant diseases, as the lymph nodes are the first site of spread in most tumors. To demonstrate this, this paper will focus on the specific issues of two regions: cervical lymph nodes, which make up most lymphadenopathy cases, and axillary lymph nodes, whose importance lies in staging breast cancer.