Computed Tomography Evaluation Of Normal Canine Abdominal Lymph Nodes: Retrospective Study Of Size And Morphology According To Body Weight And Age In 45 Dogs

Abstract BackgroundThe morphological characteristics of the largest lymphatic vessels and lymph nodes of the body have been described through ultrasonography, although food and gas in the gastrointestinal tract can often have negative effects on the response of small abdominal structures. The aim of the study was to describe the size of normal abdominal lymph nodes (ALs) in dogs affected by disease, not including lymphadenomegaly or lymphadenopathy, and divided according to body weight and age. The ALs studied included the jejunal, medial iliac, portal, gastric, splenic, and pancreaticoduodenal lymph nodes.ResultsMultiple statistical analyses among the three groups showed that all measurements of the ALs increased according to body weight changes (P <0.05). The most reliable values were the volume measurements (P 0.1). Mixed results emerged from a comparison of weight categories and age; only the jejunal lymph nodes showed a possible correlation (P<0.1). Other characteristics (shape, attenuation and enhancement) are subsequently reported.Conclusions and Clinical RelevanceThe resulting data can be used to categorize CT measurements of normal ALs displayed based on the body weight and age of the subjects. This study was able to detect an objective parameter of normalcy that can serve as a reference for the evaluation of infectious or neoplastic events.