Ultrasonographic Appearance of Jejunal Lymph Nodes in Dogs Without Clinical Signs of Gastrointestinal Disease

Abstract

The jejunal lymph nodes of 57 dogs without clinical signs of gastrointestinal disease were examined to characterize their ultrasonographic appearance on B-mode and power Doppler examination, and to obtain ultrasonographic measurements. The lymph nodes were mildly hypoechoic to the mesentery in 71% of dogs and isoechoic in 29%. All dogs, 6 years of age or older had jejunal lymph nodes of uniform echogenicity. In dogs less than 6 years of age, nonuniform lymph nodes with different echopatterns were observed. Although most lymph nodes had no blood flow based on power Doppler examination, hilar blood flow was detected in 33% of dogs, which were generally less than 2 years of age. The median maximum thickness of the jejunal lymph nodes was 3.9 mm (range 1.6-8.2 mm), and their median maximum width 7.5 mm (range 2.6-14.7 mm). There was a significant correlation between larger lymph node diameter and younger age and higher body weight. We concluded that patient age should be considered when interpreting the echopattern and vascularity of jejunal lymph nodes in dogs, and that the jejunal lymph nodes of dogs without clinical signs of gastrointestinal disease may exceed the previously stated upper limit of 5-6 mm thickness.

Ultrasonographic measurements of abdominal lymph nodes in growing puppies

“…In this study, we used one transverse measurement on the short axis image (width) and two measurements on the long axis image (length and thickness). In contrast to previous studies (Agthe et al 2009), the width and thickness of jejunal lymph nodes were not directly related to growth in any of the sizes evaluated; rather, we found that the length of the jejunal lymph node was directly related to growth in large breed dogs and decreased in small breed dogs only. However, in that study, length was not measured, and the dogs belonged to a variety of breeds and were aged between six months and 14 years.…”

“…During the time interval of evaluation, we found an increase in length of jejunal nodes in large-sized puppies and dimensions of iliac lymph nodes directly correlated with body weight in puppies of all three sizes. This is similar to previous studies of jejunal lymph nodes (Agthe et al 2009) and retropharyngeal lymph nodes (Burns et al 2008) but it is in contrast with other data (Stander et al 2010). It must be emphasised that these authors took only one measurement (thickness).…”

Prevalence, location and concurrent diseases of ultrasonographic cyst‐like lesions of abdominal lymph nodes in dogs

“…The identification of medial iliac lymph nodes in healthy dog ranges from 45 per cent to 100 per cent (Llabrés-Díaz 2004, Mayer and others 2010). In another study, at least one jejunal lymph node was identified in 57/57 dogs, but gas-filled intestinal loops prevented the complete US assessment in three dogs during the first examination (Agthe and others 2009). In the authors’ institution, abdominal lymph node regions (coeliac, cranial mesenteric, lumbar and iliosacral lymphocenters) are usually inspected, and at least iliosacral and cranial mesenteric lymph nodes are consistently visualised during a complete abdominal US.…”

“…Lymph nodes may have either a homogeneous hypoechoic or isoechoic pattern, or a corticomedullary distinction with a hypoechoic rim surrounding the hyperechoic central rim, or a heterogenous aspect with a hypoechoic nodule (Nyman and O'Brien 2007, Agthe and others 2009, Mayer and others 2010, Stander and others 2010, Krol and O'Brien 2012). Many different ultrasonographic features have been studied to differentiate benign from malignant lymph nodes.…”

Non-Specific Mesenteric Lymphadenitis in Children (Literature Review)

“…Отсутствие в правом нижнем квадранте живота трубчатой структуры со слепым концом и усиленным кровотоком также свидетельствует в пользу ОНМЛ [44]. Диагностическая ценность УЗИ может сни-жаться у больных, госпитализируемых по экстренным показаниям, из-за отсутствия целенаправленной подго-товки кишечника [47,48].…”