Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 19, 2026
Imaging CD19+ B Cells in an Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis Mouse Model using Positron Emission Tomography
Published on: January 20, 2023
Comparison of computed tomographic images of normal cranial and upper cervical lymph nodes with corresponding E12
1Department for Diagnostic Imaging, Infectious Diseases and Clinical Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria. sibylle.kneissl@vu-wien.ac.at
Insights
Computed tomography (CT) effectively identifies normal canine lymph nodes in the head and neck. Normal lymph nodes appear slightly hypodense and homogeneous on CT scans, aiding morphological assessment.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Radiology
- Canine Anatomy
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Accurate identification of normal lymph nodes is crucial for diagnosing canine diseases.
- Computed tomography (CT) is increasingly used in veterinary medicine for detailed anatomical assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To document the typical appearance of normal lymph nodes in canine head and upper cervical computed tomographic (CT) images.
- To establish reference criteria for normal lymph node morphology on CT.
Main Methods:
- Review of 102 canine CT scans of the head and upper cervical region.
- Exclusion of scans with abnormal lymph node characteristics (asymmetry, enlargement, obliteration).
- Correlation with plastinated-embedded canine anatomical sections for topographical accuracy.
Main Results:
- Normal lymph nodes were consistently identified as slightly hypodense and homogeneous compared to muscle tissue.
- Mandibular and retropharyngeal lymphocenters were reliably visualized and assessed using CT.
- The parotid lymph node was inconsistently identified due to poor tissue contrast.
Conclusions:
- Computed tomography is a valuable tool for detecting and evaluating the morphology of normal canine mandibular and retropharyngeal lymph nodes.
- Further refinement may be needed for consistent visualization of the parotid lymph node on CT.
Abstract:
To document normal lymph nodes on computed tomographic images, 102 scans were reviewed of dogs that had computed tomography (CT) of the head and upper cervical region. If lymph nodes were identified, symmetry, density, homogeneity, and size, as well as the relation to the surrounding fat tissue were noted. CT images with distinct asymmetric, enlarged, and obliterated lymph nodes were excluded. To improve the detailed anatomical topography, corresponding E12 plastinated-embedded sections of a dog were used. Compared with muscle tissue, normal lymph nodes were slightly hypodense and had a homogeneous parenchyma. Mandibular and retropharyngeal lymphocentres could be seen consistently and CT proved to be a useful method both to detect their presence and to assess their morphology. It was not possible to identify the parotid lymph node consistently because of the lack of tissue contrast at the lymph node-gland interface.
