Helical computed tomographic angiography of the normal canine pancreas.

Helical abdominal computed tomography (CT) was performed in nine normal beagle-mix dogs. Following cephalic vein injection of ionic iodinated contrast medium via power injector (rate 5 ml/s) dual-phase CT was performed in all dogs. A delayed scan was performed in five dogs between 5 and 13 min after the contrast medium injection. The median time of appearance of contrast medium in the aorta and gastroduodenal artery was 6.3 and 7 s, post start injection and 12 and 12.2 s in the gastroduodenal and portal vein, resulting in a purely arterial pancreatic time window of 5-6s. Pancreatic veins and parenchyma remained enhanced until the end of the dynamic scan (40s). The pancreatic parenchyma showed heterogeneous arterial and homogenous venous contrast enhancement which was slightly hypoattenuating compared to the liver. Delayed scans provided best delineation of the pancreas from the liver. The common bile duct could be identified ventral and to the right of the portal vein joining the dorsomedial aspect of proximal duodenum. Because of the very short time window and variable onset of pure arterial enhancement careful planning of dual-phase studies with previous dynamic CT is recommended. Dual-phase CT angiography enables assessment of the arterial supply, parenchymal perfusion and venous drainage of the canine pancreas.

Clinical differentiation of acute necrotizing from chronic nonsuppurative pancreatitis in cats: 63 cases (1996-2001).

OBJECTIVE: To characterize clinical, clinicopathologic, radiographic, and ultrasonographic findings in cats with histologically confirmed acute necrotizing pancreatitis (ANP) or chronic nonsuppurative pancreatitis (CP) and identify features that may be useful in the antemortem differentiation of these disorders. DESIGN: Retrospective study. ANIMALS: 63 cats with histologically confirmed ANP (n = 30) or CP (33). PROCEDURE: Medical records were reviewed for signalment, clinical signs, concurrent diseases, clinicopathologic findings, and results of radiography and ultrasonography. RESULTS: Cats in both groups had similar nonspecific clinical signs, physical examination findings, and radiographic and ultrasonographic abnormalities. Abdominal ultrasonographic abnormalities, including hypoechoic pancreas, hyperechoic mesentery, and abdominal effusion, were found in cats in both groups and, therefore, were not specific for ANP. Cats with CP were significantly more likely to have concurrent diseases than were cats with ANP (100 and 83%, respectively). Clinicopathologic abnormalities were similar between groups; however, serum alanine aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase activities were significantly higher in cats with CP. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggest that ANP and CP in cats cannot be distinguished from each other solely on the basis of history, physical examination findings, results of clinicopathologic testing, radiographic abnormalities, or ultrasonographic abnormalities.