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Hepatic portal venous gas and pneumobilia (PB) are uncommon findings, indicating the accumulation of gas in the portal vein and its branches and in the biliary tree, respectively. Aims of this retrospective, descriptive study were to describe the computed tomographic (CT) features and visualization techniques of hepatic portal venous gas (HPVG) and PB in a group of small animal veterinary patients. The CT data of patients with HPVG and PB were retrospectively reviewed. Thin-section multiplanar reformatting and minimum intensity projection (MinIP) views were used to assess the acquired volume dataset. The CT features recorded were as follows: amount, aspect, distribution, and localization of the gas in the liver. Five patients were included (four dogs and one cat), two presenting HPVG and three with PB. Gas in HPVG presented a peripheral location, whereas in PB was characterized by a central location. The aspect of the gas was tubular in case of HPVG and mixed tubular and rounded in PB. An analogous number of animals between the two groups showed comparable amount (mild, moderate, and severe) and distribution (diffuse and focal). Thin-section CT can detect the presence of gas in the liver, and a combination of two-dimensional and thin-slab MinIP can differentiate between HPVG and PB in dogs and cats. The distinctive features are peripheral versus central location and tubular versus rounded aspect of the gas.

Liver lobe torsion (LLT) is an uncommon condition of unknown origin in dogs. Several reports describe the clinical features and outcome, but only few of them include the imaging characteristics of this disease. The aim of this descriptive case series was to describe the ultrasonographic (US) and multidetector-row computed tomographic (MDCT) features of LLT in a group of dogs. Five dogs were included in this single-center descriptive study, having both US, CT and surgical and histological confirmation of LLT available for review. Different US appearances have been found, both hypoechoic and hyperechoic liver lobes and heterogeneous mass-like lesions, with fluid and gas content. At three-phase MDCT examination, LLT appeared as fluid- and gas-filled lesions (consistent with abscess transformation), or as hypoattenuating hypovascular lobes. Two different vascular signs were also described: whirl sign or vascular interruption were seen in all cases, allowing a correct pre-surgical diagnosis in all the cases presented. Multiphase MDCT was a helpful imaging method for the correct pre-surgical diagnosis of LLT in dogs, and its use in the suspected cases is therefore advisable.

Extramedullary hematopoiesis (EMH) is the formation and development of blood cells outside the bone marrow, and in dogs it frequently occurs in the spleen. Although splenic EMH is a relatively common condition, data regarding its appearance in veterinary medicine are lacking. Our aim was to describe different multidetector computed tomographic (MDCT) features of splenic EMH in dogs. In this descriptive retrospective study, dogs with cytological diagnosis of splenic EMH and three-phase MDCT study of the abdomen were included. Multi-detector CT findings recorded were splenomegaly, appearance of the parenchyma, and mean attenuation of the spleen and lesions. Out of 89 dogs included, 55 (62%) presented multifocal nodular aspect, 14 (16%) mass, 12 (13%) diffuse heterogeneous parenchyma, and eight (9%) normal spleen. Most lesions were hyperattenuating to the parenchyma in the arterial (57/89, 64%) and portal (59/89, 66%) phases; whereas in the interstitial phase only 40 of 89 (45%) were hyperattenuating. The mean attenuations of the lesions were higher compared to the values of the adjacent spleen, and the difference of the mean attenuation between the hyperattenuating lesions and the parenchyma was significantly higher in arterial and portal phases than in interstitial phase (P < .0001). The most frequent MDCT aspect of splenic extramedullary hematopoiesis consists of multiple nodules hyperattenuating to the normal spleen, best visualized in the arterial and portal phases.

Background Medullary rim sign (MRS) refers to a hyperechoic line in the renal medulla, reported on ultrasound examination (US) in both dogs and cats with and without kidney disease (KD). Objective To describe the different aspects of MRS in cats and to assess its association with KD. Animals Cats that underwent US examination, with MRS (study group) with and without KD and without MRS with and without KD (control groups). Methods Retrospective case-control study: cats with MRS, with or without KD (rim sign groups) and cats without MRS, with or without KD (control groups). Ultrasonographic images were blindly reviewed with attention given to the thickness and margins of the MRS recorded. Results Eighty-four cats with MRS were included and 60 cats recruited for each control group. The MRS had 2 distinct aspects: a thin hyperechoic line with well-defined margins (MRS-line) in 50/84 cats (59%) and a thick hyperechoic band with ill-defined margins (MRS-band) in 34/84 cats (41%). Twenty of 50 (40%) cats with MRS-line and 25/34 (74%) of cats with MRS-band had KD. The frequency of MRS-line was higher in cats without KD, whereas the presence of MRS-band was more frequent in cats with KD (P = .003). Conclusions and clinical importance A thick hyperechoic ill-defined band (for which the term medullary band sign is proposed) was more frequently associated with KD, whereas a thin hyperechoic well-defined line (true MRS) may be seen in cats with or without KD.

An 11-month-old male intact French Bulldog was referred for chronic intermittent diarrhea lasting three months. Ultrasonographic (US) examination revealed severe thickening of the wall of the colon and caecum; contrast-enhanced US (CEUS) and elastography showed increased, heterogeneous vascularization and non-uniform stiffness of the colonic wall. The mucosa was thickened, fragile, and ulcerated as revealed by endoscopy, and histological examination confirmed the suspicion of granulomatous colitis.

The present retrospective study evaluated the progression of osteoarthritis in stifle joints based on the radiographic grade of osteoarthritis (OA) scored in dogs with cranial cruciate ligament rupture. The aim of the study was to search for a correlation between the stage of radiographic osteoarthritis prior to surgery and the osteoarthritis progression occurring after the tibial tuberosity advancement (TTA) procedure. It was hypothesized that the procedure carried out in dogs in the early stages of OA could reduce the OA changes. A total of 190 X-ray images obtained from the medical records of 38 dogs were evaluated. The radiographic signs of osteoarthritis of 38 stifle joints were scored from 0 to 3 in 10 specific anatomic locations. The radiographs were divided into 4 groups based on the global scores: A) no-OA, B) mild-OA, C) moderate-OA, D) severe-OA; they were assessed prior to surgery, and 1, 2, 3 and 6 months post-operatively (T0, T1, T2, T3 and T6). There were no differences in osteoarthritis progression in Groups A and C at any time. Osteoarthritis changes from T0 to T6 were statistically significant in Group B. The OA changes in the anatomic locations were investigated. The most common anatomic sites for OA changes were the patella apex, the proximal and distal trochlear ridges, and the caudal aspect of the tibial plateau assessed before surgery. After surgery, the score increased in the first three locations in 10, 9 and 11 joints, respectively; instead, the progression of osteoarthritis in the caudal aspect of the tibial plateau occurred in 23 out of 38 stifle joints. The results indicated that the TTA procedure could be effective in slowing down the OA progression when carried out in the absence of or in the early stages of disease. Therefore, an early intervention may be suggested in clinical practice to obtain minimal or no progression 6 months postoperatively.

Tumors of adrenal and thyroid glands have been associated with vascular invasions&mdash, so-called tumor thrombi, both in humans and dogs. The detection and characterization of venous thrombi is an important diagnostic step in patients with primary tumors for both surgical planning and prognosis. The aim of this study was to describe the use of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) for the characterization of tumor thrombi. Dogs with tumor thrombus who underwent bi-dimensional ultrasound (B-mode US) and CEUS were included. Seven dogs were enrolled in this retrospective case series. On B-mode US, all thrombi were visualized, and vascular distension and thrombus-tumor continuity were seen in three and two cases, respectively. On color Doppler examination, all thrombi were identified, seemed non-occlusive and only two presented vascularity. On CEUS, arterial-phase enhancement and washout in the venous phase were observed in all cases. Non-enhancing areas were identified in the tumor thrombi most likely representing non-vascularized tissue that could potentially be embolized in the lungs after fragmentation of the tumor thrombi. On the basis of these preliminary study, CEUS appeared to be useful for the characterization of malignant intravascular invasion.

Background: In dogs, due to better alignment with the aortic outflow, the subcostal (SC) transducer site provides greater Doppler-derived velocities than those obtained from the left parasternal view. The feasibility of this imaging approach has never been described in equine echocardiography. Objectives: The objective of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of the SC view in newborn foals and compare aortic two-dimensional and Doppler-derived velocity measurements with those of standard parasternal long-axis (LAX) views. Study design: A prospective observational study. Methods: Twenty-three newborn healthy Standardbred and Warmblood foals, aged from 7 h to 6 days, underwent transthoracic two-dimensional (2DE), M-mode and Doppler echocardiography that was performed in lateral recumbency. Right and left parasternal long-axis (R-LAX, L-LAX) and SC views were obtained to perform 2DE and Doppler assessments of the aortic valve (AoV). Aortic diameter at the sinus of Valsalva (AoS D) was measured from R-LAX and SC images. Aortic maximal velocity (AoV Velmax), velocity time integral (AoV VTI) and pressure gradient (AoV PG) were obtained by pulsed wave Doppler spectra from SC and L-LAX views. Results: The SC view was feasible in all foals. No significant difference was found in AoS D between different views (P = 0.06), and no significant correlation was detected for bodyweight (BW). AoV Velmax, VTI and PG obtained from the SC view were greater than from the L-LAX view (P

Background This study describes the feasibility of Contrast Enhanced Ultrasonography (CEUS) in the diagnostic work-up of non-cardiac thoracic disorders of small animals. The second aim is to assess the usefulness of CEUS as a direct guide for sample procedures. Results Forty animals, 28 dogs and 12 cats, were included in the study. Thoracic disorders included 23 pulmonary lesions [primary carcinoma (14), lymphoma (1), sarcoma (1), histiocytic sarcoma (1), abscess (1) and pneumonia (5)] and 17 mediastinal lesions [lymphoma (8), thymoma (3), mesothelioma (1), melanoma (1), carcinomatous lymphadenopathy (1), mixsosarcoma (1), lipoma (1), and abscess (1)]. The majority of neoplastic pulmonary lesions showed an inhomogeneous distribution of contrast medium, whereas inflammatory lesions had a homogenous distribution with typical pulmonary vessels ramification. The majority of mediastinal malignant lesions showed an inhomogeneous distribution pattern. The lung and mediastinal abscesses had peripheral enhancement of the wall with an avascular center. All cytological and biopsy samples obtained after CEUS were diagnostic. Quantitative analysis, performed in 19/23 pulmonary lesions, showed a statistically significant difference (P