Extrahepatic biliary atresia in a 4-week-old Pug.

OBJECTIVE: To report diagnosis and surgical therapy of extrahepatic biliary atresia in a dog. STUDY DESIGN: Clinical report. ANIMAL: Dog (n = 1). METHODS: A 4-week-old female intact Pug presented with acholic feces, lethargy, and poor weight gain. On the basis of the stool color and abdominal ultrasonography findings, extrahepatic biliary atresia was suspected. Intraoperatively, no major duodenal papilla was identified and cholecystoduodenostomy was performed. RESULTS: One day postoperatively the stool color was considered normal. On ultrasonographic examinations up to 6 months after surgery, the gall bladder remained small and the stoma was functional. Serum biochemical profile after 10 months had a mild increase in alanine-aminotransferase (149 U/L; reference interval [RI], 0-85 U/L) whereas alkaline phosphatase and glutamate dehydrogenase were within normal limits. At 15 months, clinical examination was normal and blood ammonia concentration was within normal limits (43 µmol/L; RI: <100 µmol/L) but bile acid concentrations were still markedly elevated (fasting, 95 µmol/L [RI: <20 µmol/L] to postprandial, 127 µmol/L [RI: <35 µmol/L]). CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasonography and stool color can be helpful noninvasive diagnostic evidence in extrahepatic biliary atresia. Surgical correction with cholecystoduodenostomy with a good clinical outcome is possible even in very young dogs. Long-term prognosis in dogs with extrahepatic biliary atresia is unknown.

[99m-Technetium-pertechnetate- and 99m-Technetium-sestamibi-scintigraphy for visualization of hypofunctioning thyroid tissue and staging in a dog with thyroid carcinoma]. / 99m-Technetium-Pertechnetat- und 99m-Technetium-Sestamibi-Szintigrafie zur Darstellung von hypofunktionellem Schilddrüsengewebe und Staging bei einem Hund mit Schilddrüsenkarzinom.

A 10-year-old female mixed breed dog was presented for thyroid scintigraphy due to a cervical mass. Apart from 99m-Technetium-pertechnetate (Tc-pertechnetate) scintigraphy, a second scintigraphy using 99m-Technetium sestamibi (Tc-MIBI) was performed because of additional hypothyroidism suspective for a "cold" nodule and as screening for metastases.Twenty minutes following intravenous injection of 38 MBq Tc-pertechnetate, a "hot" cervical as well as a "hot" intrathoracal nodule were seen with an uptake of 8.40 and 0.25 %, respectively. The second scintigraphy was performed 20 minutes after intravenous injection of 364 MBq Tc-MIBI and 70 minutes following the first. After subtraction of pertechnetate activity and decay correction, both nodules showed an uptake of 0.99 and 0.03 %. Additionally, both thyroid lobes were visible in the thyroid loge with a weak MIBI-uptake. For both lesions, the ratio Tc-uptake/Tc-MIBI-uptake was 8.48 and 8.33, respectively.Following the extirpation of the cervical mass, histopathology revealed atrophied healthy thyroid tissue almost completely displaced by a well-differentiated follicular thyroid carcinoma.This case report describes performance, utility and calculative correction of consecutive pertechnetate- and MIBI-scan, that enable a visualization of hypofunctional thyroid tissue.Therefore and because of their similar MIBI metabolic activity, both nodules were considered to be dystopic tissue/metastases so that this dog had to be classified as prognostically less favorable WHO stabe IV. Different from human patients, both scintigraphies should be performed shortly after another in dogs in order to avoid the necessity of a second anesthetic procedure. A reliable qualitative/visual evaluation of the MIBI-scan is therefore not possible, so that a quantitative assessment using the uptake after calculative correction of the pertechnetate activity is recommended.

[Urethrolithiasis in the dog - a retrospective evaluation of 83 male dogs]. / Urethrolithiasis beim Hund ­ eine retrospektive Untersuchung an 83 Rüden.

OBJECTIVE: Urethral calculi are a frequent cause of urinary disorders in male dogs. The aim of this study was to evaluate male dogs with urethral stones, which were relocated into the urinary bladder with the support of standardized epidural anesthesia in addition to general anesthesia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data of 83 male dogs with urethral calculi were evaluated regarding clinical signs, localization and number of urethral calculi, diagnostic imaging, surgical procedure and postoperative radiographs. Additionally, bacterial culture and stone type analysis were evaluated. Besides general anesthesia all dogs received an epidural anesthesia. RESULTS: With one exception all dogs showed signs of urinary disorders, in 33 cases, these were chronic. In 66 cases, urethral stones were diagnosed radiographically and in 11 cases, radiolucent urethral concrements were detected via ultrasonography. In 6 dogs, diagnosis was reached by catheterization and subsequent evidence of stones in the urinary bladder. At the time of presentation, more than one third of the dogs showed urethral calculi only. In 53 % of the dogs (n = 44), 3 or more urethral stones were present. In 77 of 83 dogs (92.7 %), relocation of all urethral stones into the urinary bladder was achieved. During postoperative radiography 9 dogs were diagnosed with residual urethral calculi. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Due to a significant proportion of dogs with sole urethral stones reliable radiological diagnosis of urethral calculi requires precise patient positioning. In cases of radiolucent calculi, ultrasonography of the urethra may lead to a diagnosis, sonographic evaluation of the urinary bladder alone is not sufficient. The use of epidural anesthesia should in the least be considered in cases in which relocation of the urethral stones is not possible by flushing. Postoperative radiographs is advisable in patients with radiodense calculi.

Inadvertent iatrogenic prostatectomy and urethrectomy in 2 dogs.

Two dogs were referred because of dysuria following inadvertent iatrogenic total prostatectomy and urethrectomy. In both cases an existing perineal hernia was not recognized by the referring veterinarians and the caudally herniated prostate gland was diagnosed as a perianal neoplasia and subsequently removed. Both dogs were treated with isolation of the urinary bladder from the urethra and a permanent prepubic cystostomy tube.

Measurement of the normal feline pituitary gland in brachycephalic and mesocephalic cats.

Objectives The purpose of this study was to determine differences in normal feline pituitary dimensions in brachycephalic and mesocephalic cats as a basis for establishing cryohypophysectomy in cats. Methods Measurements were performed on sagittal T2-weighted and transverse post-gadolinium T1-weighted or T1 3D fast field echo-weighted MRI images. A total of 32 brachycephalic and 27 mesocephalic cats were examined. Inter-observer reproducibility was assessed by t-test and Bland-Altman analysis. Results The cats were 0.6-15.9 years of age with a body weight range of 1.84-6.60 kg. For brachycephalic cats, the mean pituitary gland sagittal height was 2.15 ± 0.15 mm, pituitary gland transverse height was 2.42 ± 0.21 mm, pituitary gland transverse width was 4.44 ± 0.27 mm and pituitary gland sagittal length was 3.14 ± 0.30 mm. In mesocephalic cats, the pituitary gland dimensions were 2.94 ± 0.16 mm, 3.09 ± 0.26 mm, 4.73 ± 0.31 mm and 4.88 ± 0.30 mm for pituitary gland sagittal height, transverse height, transverse width and sagittal length, respectively. There was a highly significant correlation between brachycephalic and mesocephalic cats and pituitary gland height and length ( P <0.0001), respectively. Sex also had an effect on pituitary gland measurements. Neutering status had no significant effect on hypophyseal measurements. Age had a significant influence on pituitary gland height, width and length in the brachycephalic population. Inter-observer reproducibility was good to excellent. Conclusions and relevance The different pituitary measurements in brachycephalic and mesocephalic cats has to be considered if surgery comes into question. There are ranges in pituitary gland sizes, even among the mesocephalic cat population. Thus, exact measuring of the pituitary gland is crucial before any surgical intervention.

Recurrent spinal arachnoid cyst in a cat.

Spinal arachnoid cysts (SACs) are uncommon expanding lesions in the spinal canal. They are rarely diagnosed in dogs, and there are only four published cases in cats. We report a case of a 12-year-old cat with recurrent signs of intermittent urinary incontinence and hind limb ataxia 2 years after surgical marsupialisation of a spinal arachnoid cyst at T11/12. Recurrence of a cyst was diagnosed by myelography. Repeated marsupialisation after laminectomy was successful and the cat recovered satisfactorily although intensive physical therapy was necessary. SACs are very rare in cats and seem to occur mainly as a secondary lesion to spinal and meningeal trauma or irritation due to bony changes of the vertebrae.

[Nasopharyngeal cyst of the respiratory epithelium in a 9-year-old Yorkshire terrier]. / Nasopharyngeale Zyste des respiratorischen Epithels bei einem 9 Jahre alten Yorkshire Terrier.

In a 9-year-old Yorkshire terrier a cyst of the respiratory epithelium of the nasopharynx was diagnosed. A complete obstruction of the nasopharynx leading to dyspnea was detected by computed tomography and endoscopy. A minimally invasive ablation of the cystic wall was performed under endoscopic guidance, followed by a pathohistological examination. Immediately after resection of the cyst, the clinical symptoms resolved. The follow-up endoscopical examination 3 months postoperatively was unremarkable. In the presented case the minimally invasive endoscopic ablation of the cystic wall was a successful treatment method.

[Complications and prognosis of cervical sialoceles in the dog using the lateral surgical approach]. / Komplikationen und Prognose von zervikalen Sialozelen beim Hund bei Anwendung des lateralen chirurgischen Zugangs.

OBJECTIVE: Evaluation of intra- and postoperative complications and prognosis of cervical sialoceles in the dog when using the lateral surgical approach for extirpation of the mandibular and sublingual salivary glands. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Medical records of 16 dogs with 19 sialoceles were evaluated retrospectively. Long-term follow-up was evaluated by telephone questionnaire to the owners or the referring veterinarian. The surgical technique is depicted in detail. RESULTS: Dogs were of various breeds. Mean age was 5.6 years (1-13 years) and mean weight was 19.1 kg (6.5-33.6 kg). Eleven dogs were male (two castrated) and five were female (two castrated). The main complaint was a cervical swelling, which was present for one year or longer in three animals, for more than one month in eight animals, and between one day and one month in five animals. At initial presentation, 12 patients were pretreated. Three patients showed a bilateral sialocele initially or later. In all cases, the diagnosis of a sialocele was made correctly by ultrasonography. Intraoperatively, no complications occurred. Postoperatively, one patient developed a bleeding and two patients a seroma. In one patient a ranula was diagnosed 14 weeks postoperatively. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The lateral approach is well suited for surgical treatment of isolated cervical sialoceles, has a low complication rate and a very good prognosis. Conservative treatment using aspiration or drainage of the cyst's content is not indicated. Sialoceles can occur bilaterally, either initially or later.

Clinical, radiographic, and magnetic resonance imaging findings of gastrocnemius musculotendinopathy in various dog breeds.

OBJECTIVES: To describe clinical, radiographic, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in 16 dogs diagnosed with gastrocnemius musculotendinopathy. METHODS: Retrospective evaluation of medical records, radiographs, and MRI results, as well as follow-up completed by telephone questionnaire. RESULTS: Most dogs had chronic hindlimb lameness with no history of trauma or athletic activities. Clinical examination revealed signs of pain on palpation without stifle joint instability. Seven dogs had radiographic signs of osteophyte formation on the lateral fabella. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed T2 hyperintensity and uptake of contrast agent in the region of the origin of the gastrocnemius muscle. Changes were found in the lateral and medial heads of the gastrocnemius. Conservative treatment resulted in return to full function in 11 dogs. Two dogs showed partial restoration of normal function, one dog showed no improvement. Two dogs were lost to follow-up. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Gastrocnemius musculotendinopathy is a potential cause of chronic hindlimb lameness in medium to large breed dogs. A history of athletic activity must not necessarily be present. Magnetic resonance imaging shows signal changes and uptake of contrast agent in the region of the origin of the gastrocnemius muscle. A combination of T1 pre- and post-contrast administration and T2 weighted sequences completed by a fat-suppressed sequence in the sagittal plane are well-suited for diagnosis. Conservative treatment generally results in return to normal function.