History:
A DSH male neutered cat, unknown age.
Weight loss and anorexia.
A palpated mobile abdominal mass.
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Findings:
The heart and pulmonary vasculature are unremarkable.
There is a soft tissue opacity cranial to the heart, compatible with enlargement of the sternal lymph nodes.
In the abdomen there is a focal loss of serosal details with associated mass effect in the mid ventral abdomen, pushing the colon dorsally. This is most likely associated with the mesentery , mesenteric lymph nodes, or the intestines, and may represent a neoplastic process, an abscess or peritonitis.

Diagnosis:
Lymphoma. The mass represents an enlarged mesenteric LN

Discussion:
The sternal lymph nodes are draining the abdomen, therefore abdominal neoplastic processes may result in their enlargement.
Making a list of all the organs located at certain regions in the abdomen is helpful in trying to identify a source of a lesion (e.g.mass). Then make a list of the organs/abdominal structures which will be displaced due to enlargement of these organs. Combining these with the clinical picture will help narrowing the differential diagnoses.

questions, comments and feedback are welcome

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