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International Congress Series 1274 (2004) 192 – 194

www.ics-elsevier.com

Ultrasonographic evaluation of abdominal organs in


veterinary medicine
Hidekazu Koyama*
Division of Veterinary Internal Medicine, Nippon Veterinary and Animal Science University,
1-7-1 Kyonan-cho Musashino, 180-8602, Tokyo, Japan

Abstract

Veterinary ultrasound began as one of the imaging methods in the late 1970s. Now,
ultrasonography has become a general diagnostic tool in veterinary medicine. Here, abdominal
ultrasound diagnosis of dog and cat based on clinical experience is described. D 2004 Elsevier B.V.
All rights reserved.

Keywords: Abdominal organ; Cat; Dog; Ultrasonography; Veterinary medicine

1. Introduction

Expertise in abdominal scanning requires a high level of manual dexterity and hand–
eye coordination as well as a thorough understanding of anatomy, physiology,
pathophysiology, effects of differences in body types, and equipment capabilities and
limitations [1]. Of importance to the beginning sonographer is development of a thorough,
systemic method for scanning the abdomen.

2. Discussion

Ultrasonography has become an essential imaging tool for identifying abnormalities of


the liver parenchyma, biliary tract, and vascular system [2]. In many cases, ultra-
sonography has replaced radiography as the initial imaging procedure in screening for
liver disease (Fig. 1). However, normal ultrasound findings do not rule out liver disease,

* Tel.: +81 422 31 4151; fax: +81 422 31 5534.


E-mail address: hkoyama@nvau.ac.jp.

0531-5131/ D 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.


doi:10.1016/j.ics.2004.07.030
H. Koyama / International Congress Series 1274 (2004) 192–194 193

Fig. 1. Chronic hepatitis with cirrhosis (copper accumulation; Doberman Pinscher, female, 4 years old). Mixed
echogenicity of the parenchyma, irregular liver margin and hypoechoic to isoechoic nodular lesions are shown.
Hepatic vein is dilatation and tortuous.

whereas abnormal findings may not be pathognomonic. Therefore, fine-needle aspiration


or ultrasound-guided biopsy of the liver is required to obtain cytologic or histologic
samples for a specific diagnosis.
Ultrasonographic examination of the spleen is useful clinically to determine the size,
location, and presence of parenchymal abnormalities when a pathologic condition is
suspected (Fig. 2). The main indications for examining the spleen are generalized
splenomegaly, abdominal or splenic mass, trauma, and hemopritoneum [2,3].

Fig. 2. Mast cell tumor of spleen in the dog. It shows splenomegaly and uniformly reduced echogenicity with a
coarse or bhoneycombQ parenchymal pattern.

Fig. 3. Polycystic renal disease in the cat (8-year-old, female Persian cat). Cysts are anechoic masses of variable
size and that have distal echo enhancement. Cysts show small internal echoes due to cellular debris.
194 H. Koyama / International Congress Series 1274 (2004) 192–194

Fig. 4. Adrenal gland hyperplasia with pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism. Moderately bilateral enlarge-
ment of the adrenal glands is seen in this dog. The diameter measured approximately 10 mm. The parenchyma is
almost normal.

The pancreas is a difficult organ to evaluate by most abdominal imaging methods [2].
The normal canine or feline pancreas is difficult to see as a distinct structure on ultrasound
studies, but the surrounding anatomy helps localize its position.
Ultrasonographic evaluation of the urinary tract has become a routine procedure in
veterinary medicine. Ultrasound imaging is usually one of the first studies performed to
assess the kidneys because important anatomic information concerning the size, shape, and
internal architecture can be obtained even in the presence of impaired renal function or
abdominal fluid (Fig. 3) [2,3].
Ultrasonography is currently the procedure of choice for evaluating suspected adrenal
gland abnormalities in small animals (Fig. 4) [2,3].
Ultrasonography of the gastrointestinal tract offers additional and complementary
information to those provided by other imaging modalities, such as contrast radiography,
fluoroscopy, nuclear medicine, computed tomography, and resonance magnetic imaging [2].
Ultrasonographic study of the prostate, testes, ovaries and uterus is a common
diagnostic imaging procedure [2]. Patients may present with clinical signs of lower urinary
tract disease, urethral discharge, systemic illness, gastrointestinal tract disorder, and
infertility. Ultrasonographic evaluation of these organs allows assessment of anatomy,
organ parenchyma, surrounding related structures such as lymph nodes, and distant organs
such as liver.

References

[1] C.P. Nautrup, R. Tobias, R.E. Cartee, An atlas and textbook of diagnostic ultrasonography of the dog and cat.
Manson Publishing, London, 1998, pp. 76–82.
[2] T.G. Nyland, J.S. Mattoon, Small animal diagnostic ultrasound. 2nd ed. Saunders, Philadelphia, 2002,
pp. 49–266.
[3] R.W. Green, Small animal ultrasound. Lippincott-Raven, Philadelphia, 1996, 105–250.

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