Case Study

Lymph node enlargement in a male neutered ferret

The patient is a neutered male ferret of unknown age. The patient presented with history of being weak and wobbly; he had been anorexic and experienced weight loss over the last three days. Abdominal palpation revealed a nodular mid-abdominal mass. Radiographs revealed a potential mass effect adjacent to the kidney.

DX

Lymph node enlargement

Sonographic Differential Diagnosis

The mass effect is most consistent with lymph node neoplasia. Other differentials may include liver neoplasia.
The right adrenal gland may be consistent with an emerging adenocarcinoma.

Image Interpretation

A hypoechoic irregular mass effect was noted in the mid-abdomen and measured approximately 3.5 x 2.5cm. The parenchyma of the mass was uniformly hypoechoic. There was a smaller potential mass noted cranial to the larger mass; the smaller mass was moderately heterogeneous and measured 2.2 x 1.6cm. The right adrenal gland was mild to moderately enlarged with uniform mildly hyperechoic parenchyma.