#Dog lymph nodes skin#

#Dog lymph nodes skin#

It is prepared as one would prepare the skin for giving an injection. A moderately enlarged lymph node is preferred.įor cutaneous lymph nodes, the skin over the node to be aspirated needs no special preparation. Also, it is best to avoid extremely enlarged lymph nodes since they may yield misleading information due to the presence of necrosis or hemorrhagic tissue. When possible, avoid submandibular lymph nodes since they are frequently reactive due to constant exposure to antigens from the oral cavity. Popliteal and prescapular lymph nodes are preferred biopsy sites for animals with generalized lymphadenopathy. The lymph nodes generally palpated in dogs and cats include the submandibular, prescapular, and popliteal lymph nodes. Nonetheless, normal sized lymph nodes may be aspirated on occasion to investigate the potential for metastatic disease.

In addition to be unrewarding, aspiration of a nonenlarged node is difficult and usually results in aspiration of perinodal fat with little or no lymphoid tissue present. Generally, if no lymph nodes are enlarged, lymph node cytology is generally not helpful. A lymph node away from the mouth or any site of inflammation should be aspirated as well as any lymph node close to a site of inflammation. If multiple lymph nodes are enlarged, more than one should be sampled.

Lymph node cytology is an excellent way to evaluate a lymphadenopathy whether it is a single, multiple, or a generalized lymph node enlargement. Sampling can also be performed by imprints or scrapings from lymph nodes that have been surgically removed or at necropsy. Cytologic samples of peripheral and/or internal lymph nodes may be collected by fine-needle aspiration biopsy or nonaspiration fine-needle biopsy techniques. Lymph node sampling and cytology is quick, easy, and usually rewarding.