title: [Sonographically detectable changes in abdominal lymph nodes in dogs with malignant lymphoma. Evaluation with special consideration of the Solbiati-Index].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Characterization of the disorders of abdominal lymph nodes in dogs with malignant lymphoma and evaluation of the Solbiati-Index (SI) and the relationship between the short axis and the length of the lymph node (S  :  L ratio) as malignancy criteria.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective analysis of data from dogs with malignant lymphoma. Inclusion criteria were cytological or histological diagnosis of the malignant lymphoma and an ultrasound examination of the abdomen prior to initiation of therapy. Criterion for exclusion was the application of a cytostatic agent prior to diagnosis. Furthermore, abdominal lymph nodes with non-neoplastic disorders were examined, when sonography as well as cytological/histological examinations were available.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 261 lymph nodes (127 dogs) with malignant lymphoma and 17 lymph nodes (nine dogs) with benign disorders were evaluated. Sonography revealed massively rounded, clearly enlarged lymph nodes in 115/127 dogs (91%) with malignant lymphoma, while the lymph nodes of the other 12 dogs (9%) displayed an enlargement in the long axis. All 17 lymph nodes with benign disorders were enlarged in the long axis. The nodal parenchyma of 91% of the 127 dogs (malignant lymphoma) presented as hypoechoic to anechoic, and the cortex and medulla could not be differentiated. In the remaining 9% of dogs, a physiological isoechoic nodal parenchyma was observed. The parenchyma of lymph nodes with benign disorders was sonographically inconspicuous. In 71% of the 127 dogs with malignant lymphoma, the SI was < 2 and the S  :  L ratio > 0.5 (indicative for malignancy). Of the nine dogs with benign lymph node disorders, 71% had an SI of > 2 and 76% of them had an S  :  L ratio < 0.5 (indicative of a benign process).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The significant increase in the size, rounding and hypoechoic changes in the lymph nodes in dogs with malignant lymphoma are indicative parameters of malignancy. In addition, the SI and the S:L ratio serve as a differentiation between benign and malign processes. Because of blurred boundaries between the malignant and benign changes, the various parameters should always be considered in conjunction.
authors.affiliation: Franziska Eberhardt, Klinik für Kleintiere, der Universität Leipzig, An den Tierkliniken 23, 04104 Leipzig, E-Mail: Franziska.Eberhardt@Kleintierklinik.uni-leipzig.de.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Eberhardt
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Köhler
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Winter
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alef
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kiefer
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D000818:Animals; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D004285:Dogs; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014463:Ultrasonography
keywords: Solbiati-index; Ultrasonography; dog; lymph node