Intra- and interobserver agreement in computed tomography localization of primary nonhematopoietic hepatic masses and comparison with surgical and histopathological outcomes in 21 cats.

Computed tomography (CT) is commonly used in the staging of hepatic masses and for liver lobectomy planning. Mass location is an important factor in determining the feasibility of resection, including surgical technique and the likelihood of surgical complications. The objectives of this retrospective descriptive cross-sectional, observer agreement, method comparison study were to assess the reliability of CT in correctly determining the hepatic division and lobar site of origin of feline primary nonhematopoietic hepatic masses, compared with surgically confirmed locations. Furthermore, it provides an overview of the types and locations of liver masses found in a cohort of cats. Pre- and postcontrast CT images of 21 cats were independently and simultaneously reviewed by two observers. Intra- and interobserver agreements and descriptive statistics on demographic and histological diagnoses were calculated. Based on surgical assessment, it was found that masses most frequently originated from the left hepatic division (13/24, 54%). The most frequent lobar origins were the left lateral (8/24, 33%), left medial (5/24, 21%), and right medial lobes (5/24, 21%). No masses were found originating from the right lateral lobe. CT correctly determined hepatic division and lobar origin in 76% of cases, with good-to-excellent intra- and interobserver agreement. The hepatic division had higher agreements overall for both observers. Most of the masses were benign (17/21, 81%), and the most prevalent histological diagnoses were biliary cystadenoma (11/21, 52%) and hepatocellular adenoma (6/21, 29%). Findings suggest that postcontrast CT is a reliable method for correctly determining hepatic mass division and lobar origin in cats.

Diagnostic imaging descriptions and prevalence of presumed phrenic lymph nodes in dogs.

The phrenic lymph node (PLN) has been described in bovine, equine, and feline anatomic references but descriptions in canine anatomic references are currently lacking. Authors have observed a well-defined, soft tissue attenuating, contrast-enhancing structure in a location consistent with previous anatomic descriptions of the PLN in dogs that underwent thoracic CT for neoplastic staging. The aims of this two-part, retrospective/prospective, anatomic, prevalence study were (1) to describe the presence of a soft tissue structure close to the thoracic caudal vena cava, defined as the presumed PLN, in a series of dogs that underwent CT as part of the staging for metastatic disease; (2) to confirm the lymphatic origin of the presumed PLN in a dog through postmortem examination; (3) to assess the prevalence of the presumed PLN in a population of dogs that underwent thoracic CT or MRI for different clinical purposes; and (4) to assess the possibility to visualize the presumed PLN with ultrasonography. The lymphatic origin of the presumed PLN was confirmed by postmortem examination in one dog. The presumed PLN was visible in 29 of 777 canine CT examinations (prevalence 3.7%). The presumed PLN was not visible in 9 of 10 prospectively recruited ultrasound cases. Most dogs with visible presumed PLNs were large-medium breeds that were presented for neoplastic staging purposes. Findings indicated that a structure consistent with the previously reported anatomic features of PLN in cattle, horses, and cats may be detected with a low prevalence in canine CT and MRI examinations.

Confirmed and presumed canine insulinomas and their presumed metastases are most conspicuous in the late arterial phase in a triple arterial phase CT protocol.

Arterial enhancement is the commonly described characteristic of canine insulinomas in contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT). However, this finding is also reported as inconsistent. The main aim of this single-center retrospective observational study was to describe the contrast enhancement (CE) pattern of canine presumed and confirmed insulinomas and presumed metastases in three consecutive (early, mid, and late) arterial phases. Included dogs had a medical-record-based clinical or cytological/histopathological diagnosis of insulinoma and quadruple-phase CECT. The arterial phases were identified according to published literature. The arterial enhancement of confirmed and presumed lesions was assessed using a visual grading score. Twelve dogs with a total of 17 pancreatic nodules were analyzed. Three dogs had multiple pancreatic nodules and nine had solitary findings. Four insulinomas were histopathologically confirmed. Late arterial phase (LAP) images demonstrated the largest number of pancreatic nodules reaching the highest enhancement scores (n = 13, 76%). All analyzed dogs had CT evidence of arterially enhancing nodules in the liver (n = 12), seven in the hepatic, splenic, or colic lymph nodes, and three in the spleen. Three out of five sampled livers and three lymph nodes were metastatic. All sampled spleens were benign. Avid arterial enhancement was the most dominant feature of canine presumed and confirmed insulinomas and presumed metastases in quadruple-phase CECT. The highest enhancement scores were observed primarily in LAP, followed by MAP. Authors, therefore, recommend including LAP in the standard CT protocol for dogs with suspected pancreatic insulinomas.

Concentrations of canine prostate specific esterase, CPSE, at baseline are associated with the relative size of the prostate at three-year follow-up.

BACKGROUND: Enlargement of the prostate is associated with prostatic diseases in dogs, and an estimation of prostatic size is a central part in the diagnostic workup. Ultrasonography is often the method of choice, but biomarkers constitute an alternative. Canine prostate specific esterase (CPSE) shares many characteristics with human prostate specific antigen (PSA) and is related to prostate size. In men with clinical symptoms of prostatic disease, PSA concentrations are related to prostate growth. The aims of the present follow-up study were to evaluate if the concentration of CPSE is associated with future growth of the prostate, and if analysis of a panel of 16 steroids gives further information on prostatic growth. Owners of dogs included in a previous study were 3 years later contacted for a follow-up study that included an interview and a clinical examination. The prostate was examined by ultrasonography. Serum concentrations of CPSE were measured, as was a panel of steroids. RESULTS: Of the 79 dogs included at baseline, owners of 77 dogs (97%) were reached for an interview, and 22 were available for a follow-up examination. Six of the 79 dogs had clinical signs of prostatic disease at baseline, and eight of the remaining 73 dogs (11%) developed clinical signs between baseline and follow-up, information was lacking for two dogs. Development of clinical signs was significantly more common in dogs with a relative prostate size of ≥2.5 at baseline (n = 20) than in dogs with smaller prostates (n = 51). Serum concentrations of CPSE at baseline were not associated with the change in prostatic size between baseline and follow-up. Serum concentrations of CPSE at baseline and at follow-up were positively associated with the relative prostatic size (Srel) at follow-up. Concentrations of corticosterone (P = 0.024), and the class corticosteroids (P = 0.0035) were positively associated with the difference in Srel between baseline and follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: The results support the use of CPSE for estimating present and future prostatic size in dogs ≥4 years, and the clinical usefulness of prostatic size for predicting development of clinical signs of prostatic disease in the dog. The association between corticosteroids and prostate growth warrants further investigation.

COMPARISON BETWEEN THORACIC RADIOGRAPHIC FINDINGS AND POSTMORTEM DIAGNOSIS OF THORACIC DISEASES IN DYSPNEIC COMPANION RATS (RATTUS NORVEGICUS).

Companion rats are often presented to veterinarians for respiratory difficulties. Dyspnea in rats is most commonly due to infectious pneumonia, and thoracic neoplasia can go undiagnosed ante mortem due to a mistaken interpretation of pneumonia. In domestic carnivores, pulmonary nodular patterns have been shown to correlate with lung neoplastic diseases and infectious diseases. The main objective of this retrospective case series study was to determine whether certain radiographic criteria could be correlated with the presence of thoracic infectious disease and neoplastic disease in companion rats. A secondary objective was to determine whether the patient's sex and age were different between rats diagnosed with infectious versus neoplastic disease. Medical records and thoracic radiographs of dyspneic companion rats presented to the University of California at Davis, William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital during the time period from January 2000 to December 2014 were reviewed. Rats with postmortem confirmation of thoracic lesions were included in the study. Thoracic radiographs were evaluated for positioning, lesion distribution, lung lobe involved, pulmonary pattern, mediastinal and pleural lesions by three observers blinded to diagnosis. Thirty rats were included in the study, including 23 rats with an infectious disease and seven with neoplasia. Mediastinal lesions were significantly more prevalent in the group diagnosed with thoracic neoplasia (P = 0.031), in particular cranially (P = 0.048). Although there was an overlap between the two groups, findings indicated that the presence of cranial mediastinal lesions may be helpful for differentiating neoplastic from infectious disease in rats.