Prevalence of lymph node and maximum short axis in traumatic patients

Normal size of mesenteric lymph nodes has not been well evaluated, as these lymph nodes are small but may be seen frequently in computed tomography (CT). The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of mesenteric lymph nodes at root of mesentery and mesentery itself.

This is a cross-sectional study on traumatic patients with normal multidetector CT (MDCT) referred to Al-Zahra Hospital in 2014-2016. The largest short axis of lymph nodes was recorded. Their location was divided into three groups of mesenteric root, peripheral mesentery, and mesentery of the right lower quadrant (RLQ). Size and number of lymph nodes in terms of locations were recorded. A number of more than 6 nodes in a position was defined as cluster nodes. Data were analyzed using SPSS software version 20. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Four hundred traumatic patients underwent MDCT scanning. The mean age of these patients was 36.6 ± 13.4 years. The number of lymph nodes was <3 in 49.3%, 52.5%, and 52.2%; 3-6 in 45.8%, 42.8%, and 42.8%; >6 in 5%, 4.8%, and 4.8% of central, peripheral, and RLQ mesentery, respectively. The average size of largest central, peripheral, and RLQ lymph nodes was 4.53 ± 1.33, 4.37 ± 1.68, and 4.37 ± 1.68, respectively (P = 0.64). Largest size of short axis in patients with cluster lymph nodes was significantly more than noncluster nodes (P < 0.001 for all regions).

Mean size of mesenteric lymph nodes was similar to the previous study, but the largest nodes were considerably larger. Furthermore, largest short axis of cluster nodes was significantly more than noncluster ones.