Canine Lymph Node Size in MRI Studies
Author Information
Author(s): Emily B. DuPont, Elizabeth Boudreau
Primary Institution: Texas A&M University
Hypothesis
Dogs with structural brain disease may have larger medial retropharyngeal lymph nodes than those without.
Conclusion
The size of medial retropharyngeal lymph nodes in dogs with structural brain disease is not significantly larger than in healthy dogs.
Supporting Evidence
- MRLNs are expected to measure 2.9–12.4 mm in maximum short-axis diameter.
- Interobserver measurement differences are ~1 mm in 95% of the sampled subjects.
- Lymph node size is correlated with body weight and age.
Takeaway
This study looked at the size of lymph nodes in dogs' necks and found that having brain disease doesn't make them bigger.
Methodology
The study measured lymph nodes in 71 healthy dogs and 58 dogs with brain disease using MRI.
Potential Biases
The control sample may not accurately reflect a truly normal population of dogs.
Limitations
The study is retrospective and has a small sample size.
Participant Demographics
The median age of control subjects was 6 years, and the median weight was 22 kg.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p=0.02
Confidence Interval
95% CI: 0.89–0.94
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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