A processing system includes a network processor and a CAM device having a re-entrant processor coupled to a CAM array. The re-entrant processor is configured to selectively modify an initial search key provided by the network processor by replacing portions of the initial search key with portions of one or more previous search keys and/or one or more previous results. The re-entrant processor is also configured to initiate a series of subsequent compare operations between new search keys and data stored in the CAM array without receiving additional instructions or search keys from the network processor.