Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasonography (CEUS) in Imaging of the Reproductive System in Dogs: A Literature Review.

The use of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) has been widely reported for reproductive imaging in humans and animals. This review aims to analyze the utility of CEUS in characterizing canine reproductive physiology and pathologies. In September 2022, a search for articles about CEUS in canine testicles, prostate, uterus, placenta, and mammary glands was conducted on PubMed and Scopus from 1990 to 2022, showing 36 total results. CEUS differentiated testicular abnormalities and neoplastic lesions, but it could not characterize tumors. In prostatic diseases, CEUS in dogs was widely studied in animal models for prostatic cancer treatment. In veterinary medicine, this diagnostic tool could distinguish prostatic adenocarcinomas. In ovaries, CEUS differentiated the follicular phases. In CEH-pyometra syndrome, it showed a different enhancement between endometrium and cysts, and highlighted angiogenesis. CEUS was shown to be safe in pregnant dogs and was able to assess normal and abnormal fetal-maternal blood flow and placental dysfunction. In normal mammary glands, CEUS showed vascularization only in diestrus, with differences between mammary glands. CEUS was not specific for neoplastic versus non-neoplastic masses and for benign tumors, except for complex carcinomas and neoplastic vascularization. Works on CEUS showed its usefulness in a wide spectrum of pathologies of this non-invasive, reliable diagnostic procedure.

Normal Electrocardiographic Pattern in Conscious Healthy Domestic Geese (Anser anser).

The aim of this study was to describe the reference intervals of electrocardiographic patterns and values in conscious healthy domestic geese (Anser anser). Standard bipolar and augmented unipolar limb lead electrocardiograms with a direct writing electrocardiograph were recorded in 14 domestic geese. The durations of PR interval, QRS complex, ST and QT intervals, the net of the QRS complex, and the P and T amplitudes were determined at 50 mm/s and at 1 cm = 1 mV. The polarity waveform was examined. The mean electrical axis in the frontal plane was determined in leads II and III. Data are expressed as means and standard deviations. The mean (SD) heart rate was 153.8 (22.4) beats/min. The QRS complex was mainly negative in leads II and III; it was positive in the augmented vector right, augmented vector left, and augmented vector foot leads. The T wave was positive in leads II, III, and the augmented vector foot lead and was negative in the augmented vector right and left leads. The mean electrical axis ranged between -30° to -140°. Electrocardiogram recordings were well tolerated by the geese. The reference intervals provided here can be used to assist in the interpretation of electrocardiographic patterns in geese.

Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound in Cystic Endometrial Hyperplasia-Pyometra Complex in the Bitch: A Preliminary Study.

In cystic endometrial hyperplasia (CEH)-pyometra syndrome, toxic factors and endometrial remodeling culminate in changes characterized by exudative and degenerative inflammatory reaction. Recent studies on hemodynamic found an increased blood flow and lower vascular resistance in uterine arteries, suggesting color Doppler ultrasound as an adjunctive tool for quantitative assessment of endometrial vascularization during pyometra. The aim of this study was to assess, through contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) exam, the vascularization in endometrial microvessels in CEH-pyometra in order to evaluate the possibility of application in this syndrome. In twelve female dogs with clinical symptoms related to pyometra, B-mode, color Doppler and CEUS exams were performed. In CEH-pyometra uteri, histopathological examination revealed severe CEH and pyometra, immunohistochemical stain with CD 34 confirmed the presence of angiogenesis. CEUS exams revealed a widespread, intense and rapidly developing homogeneous enhancement of the hyperplastic endometrium, with absence of signal only in cystic areas. All parameters of the quantitative analysis were not significantly influenced by region of interest dimension and position. CEUS has the potential to improve clinical not invasive evaluations in the CEH-pyometra syndrome and virtually in CEH-mucometra.

Use of contrast-enhanced ultrasound for assessment of nodular lymphoid hyperplasia (NLH) in canine spleen.

BACKGROUND: Nodular lymphoid hyperplasia (NLH) is one of the most common non-neoplastic splenic lesions in dogs, especially in old ones, showing a splenic enlargement. More recent studies have been focused on Contrast Enhanced Ultrasonography (CEUS) analysis of the spleen for establishing normal perfusion patterns and blood pool phase peculiarities of focal lesions. The aim of the study was to evaluate the qualitative and quantitative CEUS analysis of the canine splenic NLH, characterizing the CEUS pattern of this pathology on 20 clinical cases. RESULTS: A prospective, observational study was performed using a system equipped with contrast-tuned imaging technology. Mechanical Index was set from 0.08 to 0.11; the contrast medium was a second generation contrast medium composed of sulphur hexafluoride encapsulated of a shell of phospholipids (SonoVue®). Qualitative and quantitative assessment of the enhancement pattern of splenic NLH were performed. Cytology and histology identified 20 splenic NLH. All of the benign hyperplastic lesions assessed were isoechoic with a homogeneous pattern than the surrounding normal spleen, during the wash-in phase (10-20 s) of the CEUS exam. Before finishing the wash-in phase, 20-45 s from the contrast medium inoculation, 19/20 benign nodules became markedly hypoechoic to the adjacent spleen. Sensitivity of hypoechoic pattern for NLH was 95%. CONCLUSIONS: These findings should prove useful in the evaluation of focal splenic masses in dogs. Since enhancement and perfusion patterns of NLH seem to coincide with some neoplastic lesions of the spleen previously reported, in clinical practice attention must be paid to the final diagnosis of canine splenic lesions using only the CEUS exam.

Quantitative evaluation of canine urinary bladder transitional cell carcinoma using contrast-enhanced ultrasonography.

BACKGROUND: In veterinary medicine, contrast-enhanced ultrasonography allowed the accurate quantification of liver, splenic and kidney vascularization in healthy dogs and the differentiation between malignant and benign hepatic, renal, and splenic nodules in dogs and cats based on perfusion patterns. The utility of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography in other applications is still under study. The aim of this study was to develop diagnostic criteria by contrast-enhanced ultrasonography in 8 client-owned adult dogs affected by urinary bladder transitional cell carcinoma with definitive diagnosis made by cytopathologic evaluation after suction biopsy. The contrast enhancement pattern and the quantification of blood flow parameters of this tumor were reported. RESULTS: Examinations with B-mode, Doppler ultrasonography and contrast-enhanced ultrasonography were performed in all not sedated dogs. Assessments of bladder masses and bladder wall infiltration were performed. Each dog received 2 bolus injections of sulfur hexafluoride during the contrast-enhanced ultrasonography. Quantitative analysis of the contrast-enhanced ultrasonography images were performed. For each dog, one region of interest was manually drawn around the entire tumor. Software analysis of contrast-enhanced time-intensity curves was used to identify peak enhancement, time to peak enhancement, regional blood volume, regional blood flow, and mean transit time. Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography showed an avid enhancement of the tumour tissue, with a heterogeneous or homogeneous pattern. The exam also showed the loss of planes between the lesion and the muscular layer. The presence of vascularized tissue through the bladder wall confirms the infiltrative feature of the tumour. Post-processing quantitative analysis showed a time-intensity curve with a rapid wash-in, a low level of signal intensity and a slow wash-out. CONCLUSIONS: Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography provided useful clinical information and defined a vascular enhancement patterns and calculated parameters associated with TCC. It may be a useful, noninvasive and reproducible tool for detecting these tumors in dogs.

Two cases of feline ectromelia: autopodium ectromelia associated with humero-ulnar synostosis and zeugopodium ectromelia.

Congenital limb deformities are rarely reported in cats. This paper describes the radiographic findings of congenital forelimb malformations in two cats. The radiographic changes were suggestive of an autopodium ectromelia associated with humero-ulnar synostosis in one case and zeugopodium ectromelia in the other case. Congenital feline limb deformities are poorly documented and, to the authors' knowledge, this is the first time that humero-ulnar synostosis has been reported in cats.

Erythropoietin reduces the degree of arthritis caused by type II collagen in the mouse.

OBJECTIVE: Erythropoietin (EPO) is a potent stimulator of erythroid progenitor cells, and its expression is enhanced by hypoxia. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of EPO on collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) in the mouse. METHODS: CIA was induced by intradermal injection of bovine type II collagen (CII) and Freund's complete adjuvant. Starting on day 25, some of the mice with CIA received daily subcutaneous injections of EPO (1,000 units/kg). Two other groups of mice received sham treatment alone or sham treatment followed by EPO treatment, respectively. Arthritis was assessed clinically, radiologically, and histologically. Cytokine and chemokine levels were measured, and neutrophil infiltration into inflamed joints was quantitated. Immunohistochemistry studies were performed to measure protein nitrosylation. Chondrocyte apoptosis was assessed by TUNEL assay. RESULTS: Macroscopic clinical evidence of CIA first appeared as periarticular erythema and edema in the hind paws. The incidence of CIA was 100% by day 27 in the CII-challenged mice, and the severity of CIA progressed over a 35-day period, with radiographic evaluation revealing focal resorption of bone. Histopathologic features of CIA included erosion of the cartilage at the joint margins. Treatment with EPO starting at the onset of arthritis (day 25) ameliorated the clinical signs on days 26-35 and improved histologic status in the joints and paws. The degree of oxidative and nitrosative damage was significantly reduced in EPO-treated mice as indicated by decreased nitrotyrosine formation and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase activation. Plasma levels of the proinflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor alpha were also significantly reduced by EPO treatment. In addition, EPO reduced the levels of apoptosis in chondrocytes in articular cartilage, as indicated by decreased TUNEL staining. CONCLUSION: These findings demonstrate that EPO exerts an antiinflammatory effect during chronic inflammation and is able to ameliorate the tissue damage associated with CIA.

Carcinoma of the submandibular salivary glands with multiple metastases in a cat.

A 9-year-old neutered male domestic shorthair cat was presented because of coughing, dysphagia, and prostration. Examination revealed firm bilateral anterocervical swellings extensively adhered to the surrounding tissues. Anisocoria with left-side miosis was also evident. X-ray and ultrasound examinations along with a fine-needle aspiration biopsy were performed. Slides were stained with May-Grünwald Giemsa, and a diagnosis of salivary gland carcinoma was made. At surgery, the tumor was found to involve both submandibular salivary glands as well as adjacent lymph nodes and surrounding tissues. The cat was euthanized and necropsy was performed. The majority of tissues and organs examined histologically, including mandibular and retropharyngeal lymph nodes, soft palate, laryngopharynx and lungs, contained neoplastic cells whose appearance was consistent with adenocarcinoma. Bilateral salivary adenocarcinoma has not previously been reported in cats, and extensive metastases are rare.