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Published on: July 25, 2015
Ultrasonographic anatomy of abdominal lymph nodes in the normal cat
Elke Schreurs1, Kathelijn Vermote, Virginie Barberet
1Department of Medical Imaging, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, Merelbeke B-9820, Belgium.
Insights
Ultrasonography successfully identified most feline abdominal lymph nodes, providing valuable size guidelines. However, visualization varied, with medial iliac nodes most consistently seen, while others were less frequently detected due to factors like gas interference.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Medicine
- Diagnostic Imaging
- Abdominal Ultrasonography
Background:
- Lymph node assessment is crucial in feline abdominal ultrasonography.
- Previous studies have not definitively established the consistent ultrasonographic identification rates of all feline abdominal lymph nodes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the feasibility of identifying all feline abdominal lymph nodes using current ultrasonographic techniques.
- To determine the visibility percentages of various feline abdominal lymph nodes.
- To establish preliminary ultrasonographic size guidelines for normal feline abdominal lymph nodes.
Main Methods:
- Ten clinically normal adult domestic shorthair cats underwent real-time compound ultrasonographic imaging.
- Systematic evaluation and documentation of the presence and location of all identifiable abdominal lymph nodes.
- Measurement of ultrasonographic length and diameter for identified lymph nodes.
Main Results:
- Medial iliac lymph nodes were identified in 100% of cats; jejunal in 90%; hepatic in 70%.
- Other nodes showed lower identification rates: aortic lumbar, splenic, pancreaticoduodenal (60%), ileocecal, colic (50%), renal (40%), gastric (30%), sacral (20%), and caudal mesenteric (10%).
- Inconsistent presence, poor echocontrast, and gastrointestinal gas interfered with identification; measured sizes generally aligned with literature values.
Conclusions:
- Ultrasonography is a valuable tool for identifying and evaluating most abdominal lymph nodes in normal cats.
- Preliminary ultrasonographic measurements provide a guideline for normal feline abdominal lymph nodes.
- Factors like lymph node location, echogenicity, and patient factors influence detection rates.
Abstract:
Lymph nodes are essential structures to be evaluated in an ultrasonographic examination of the feline abdomen. It was hypothesized that current technical proficiency would allow all feline abdominal lymph nodes to be identified ultrasonographically. Ten clinically normal, adult, domestic shorthair cats were examined using real-time compound ultrasonographic imaging. The medial iliac lymph nodes were visible in 100% of the cats, the jejunal lymph nodes in 90%, the hepatic lymph nodes in 70%, the aortic lumbar, the splenic, and the pancreaticoduodenal lymph nodes in 60% each, the ileocecal and the colic lymph nodes in 50% each, and the renal, the gastric, the sacral and the caudal mesenteric lymph nodes in 40%, 30%, 20%, and 10% of the cats, respectively. The inconsistent presence of lymph nodes, their poor echocontrast and interposed gas of the gastrointestinal tract explain the lower percentages of identification. The ultrasonographic length and diameter of the lymph nodes were determined. The majority of these measurements corresponded to those in the literature. We conclude that ultrasonography is a valuable tool for the identification and evaluation of most abdominal lymph nodes in the normal cat. Average ultrasonographic measurements are presented as a preliminary guideline for normal feline abdominal lymph nodes. ete
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