Lymphadenopathy means an enlarged lymph node, either one node, a region, or all palpable nodes. In cats the main task is to separate reactive change and infection from neoplasia, because treatment is completely different. Lymphoma is the most important neoplastic cause, but many enlarged nodes are not lymphoma.
Key facts
Lymphoma at a glance- Species and system: cat; hemic/lymphatic.
- Mechanisms: reactive hyperplasia, lymphadenitis (infection or inflammation), or neoplastic infiltration (primary lymphoma or metastasis).
- Peripheral nodes you can palpate: mandibular, superficial cervical (prescapular), axillary, superficial inguinal and popliteal.
- Abdominal nodes: usually seen on ultrasound only; jejunal (mesenteric) and medial iliac nodes are the usual ones to assess.
- First test: fine needle aspirate cytology; test every cat for FeLV and FIV.
- Zoonotic: some causes are (Sporothrix, Bartonella, Pasteurella-type bite infections, Mycobacterium).
What's inside
12 sections in the full guide- Key facts
- How the NAVLE tests this
- Cause and pathophysiology
- Clinical signs
- Diagnosis
- Differential diagnoses
- Treatment and management
- Prevention, control and public health
- Prognosis
- Quick review
- Test yourself
- References
The full guide also has 6 tables, 1 figure, 3 self-test questions and 7 references, available to NAVLE members.
Read the full study guide
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