Ultrasonography and fine needle aspirate cytology of the mesenteric lymph node in normal domestic ferrets (Mustela putorius Furo)

The large mesenteric lymph node of 28 normal ferrets was imaged with ultras ound. The large node, located in the mid-abdomen at the root of the mesente ry, was round to ovoid and uniformly hyperechoic. Mean ultrasonographic dim ensions of the lymph node were 12.6 +/- 2.6 mm by 7.6 +/- 2.0 mm. Fine need le aspirates of 20 lymph nodes were obtained either using ultrasound guided free-hand techniques or at necropsy. The cytological descriptions were com pared to histological descriptions of 13 lymph node core biopsies obtained during laparotomy or necropsy as well as 10 peripheral blood smear differen tials. The large mesenteric lymph node of ferrets could be easily imaged an d measured by ultrasound and evaluated by fine needle aspirate cytology. No rmal lymph node cytology may include an eosinophilic infiltrate.