Ultrasonography and surgery of canine biliary diseases.

Findings of hepatic and gallbladder ultrasonography were analyzed in 12 dogs with gallbladder and/or extrahepatic biliary tract obstruction and compared with the results of exploratory laparotomy. Hepatic ultrasonography demonstrated normal liver in 2 dogs and hepatic abnormalities in 10 animals. The following ultrasonographic diagnoses were established compared to surgical findings: gallbladder obstruction caused by bile sludge (correct/incorrect: 1/2, surgical diagnosis: choleliths in one case), gallbladder obstruction caused by neoplasm (0/1, surgical diagnosis: mucocele), gallbladder and extrahepatic biliary tract obstruction due to choleliths (3/3), extrahepatic biliary tract obstruction caused by pancreatic mass (1/1) and small intestinal volvulus (1/1). Bile peritonitis caused by gallbladder rupture (4/4) was correctly diagnosed by ultrasound, aided with ultrasonographically-guided abdominocentesis and peritoneal fluid analysis. Rupture of the gallbladder should be suspected in the presence of a small, echogenic gallbladder or in the absence of the organ together with free abdominal fluid during ultrasonography. Laparotomy was correctly indicated by ultrasonography in all cases. However, the direct cause of obstruction could not be determined in 2 of the 12 dogs by ultrasonography alone.

Sonographic diagnosis of intestinal obstruction in the dog.

Ultrasonography was performed on 44 dogs to decide whether small bowel obstruction was present. The sonographic criteria for small bowel obstruction were (1) the presence of pendulous movement of the ingesta inside the dilated bowel, (2) observation of invaginated intestines or an ingested intraluminal foreign body, (3) observation of non-uniform peristaltic activity of the dilated intestines, or (4) observation of akinetic intestinal loops together with abdominal fluid accumulation. By using these criteria, obstruction was correctly diagnosed by ultrasonography in 11 of the 13 dogs with mechanical ileus, and obstruction was correctly excluded in 29 of the 31 non-obstructive cases. Thus, the above-mentioned sonographic criteria had 85% sensitivity and positive predictive value, and 94% specificity and negative predictive value. The present study suggests that ultrasonography is a valuable tool for diagnosing small intestinal obstruction in the dog.

Ultrasonographic study of feline lower urinary tract diseases: 32 cases.

The objective of the study was to describe the ultrasonographic findings of urinary bladder urolithiasis and to determine the diagnostic value of the technique in feline lower urinary tract diseases (LUTD). Physical examination of the urinary system and routine clinicopathological analysis of the blood and urine were performed on 32 cats presented with clinical symptoms of LUTD. Cystosonography was done on all of the cats, while plain radiography was performed on 8 and double contrast cystography on 2 cats. Sonography of the bladder provided the following diagnoses: urolithiasis and chronic cystitis: 24 cases, chronic cystitis without urolithiasis: 4 cases, bladder neoplasm: 1 case, negative sonographic finding: 3 cases. Bladder calculi and/or plugs were diagnosed easily, up to a size of 2 mm, according to acoustic shadowing and/or reverberation and gravitation. When the bladder was empty, it was filled up with physiologic saline solution to visualise its contents more easily. Sonography proved to be a useful technique for diagnosing urinary bladder calculi and/or plugs even when they were radiolucent and for distinguishing among the different causes of LUTD. Although ultrasonography is a valuable diagnostic tool, radiography is still necessary to explore lower urinary tract diseases, especially when cystosonography provides negative results or urethral obstruction is suspected.

Ultrasonographic findings of renal dysplasia in cocker spaniels: eight cases.

A retrospective study of eight young Cocker Spaniels aged 9-24 months was performed to describe the ultrasonographic findings of histologically confirmed renal dysplasia. Ultrasonography revealed kidneys of significantly (p < 0.001) reduced volume in all dogs. During qualitative evaluation, two different types of sonographic alterations could be seen. In one type of the ultrasound alterations, corticomedullary demarcation was distinct and the renal cortex was remarkably thin, which was best seen in the dorsal (frontal) imaging plane. In the other type of the ultrasound appearance, overall increased echogenicity with poor corticomedullary demarcation was noticed, and the kidneys could hardly be separated from their surroundings. These features were best recognised in the sagittal (coronal) imaging plane. In one dog with secondary hypercalcaemia, a hyperechoic corticomedullary area was also seen. Post-mortem histological diagnosis revealed renal dysplasia and secondary fibrosis. Based on ultrasound findings alone, renal dysplasia (renal familial disease) can be suspected when small kidneys with thin echogenic cortex are present in young dogs. An ultrasound image, similar to that of fibrotic kidneys (increased overall echogenicity and reduced corticomedullary definition) cannot be differentiated from chronic inflammatory disease and from end-stage kidneys. Therefore, ultrasound-guided biopsy or post-mortem histology is necessary for the definitive diagnosis of renal dysplasia. This is the first study reporting on the ultrasound appearance of renal dysplasia in Cocker Spaniel dogs.

[The diagnostic value of sonography in the clinical picture of pyometra in the dog]. / Der diagnostische Wert der Sonographie im Krankheitsbild der Pyometra beim Hund.

Experiences of the diagnostic value of ultrasonography of pyometra in the bitch are reported. The different ultrasound scans of the uterus are illustrated. Results are compared with clinical diagnosis and pathophysiological findings after laparotomy and surgical removal of the uteri. Very close correlation (r: 0.985, p < 0.001) was found between the postoperative macroscopic and the ultrasound scan measurements of the uterus. Accuracy of the ultrasound diagnosis and reasons for false and questionable results are discussed. In summary, ultrasonography is an accurate procedure for the qualitative and quantitative examination and diagnosis of canine pyometra.