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The status of sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) is decisive in staging, prognosis, and therapeutic approach. Using an ultrasonographic examination algorithm composed of B-mode, Doppler technique, contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) and elastography, this study aimed to determine the diagnostic performance of the four techniques compared to histopathological examination. 96 SLNs belonging to 71 female dogs with mammary gland carcinomas were examined. After examinations, mastectomy and lymphadenectomy were performed. Histopathological examination confirmed the presence of metastases in 54 SLNs. The elasticity score had the highest accuracy&mdash, 89.71%, identifying metastases in SLNs with 88.9.9% sensitivity (SE) and 90.5% specificity (SP), ROC analysis providing excellent results. The S/L (short axis/long axis) ratio showed 83.3% SE and 78.6% SP as a predictor of the presence of metastases in SLN having a good accuracy of 81.2%. On Doppler examination, the resistivity index(RI) showed good accuracy of 80% in characterizing lymph nodes with metastases versus unaffected ones, the same results being obtained by CEUS examination. By assigning to each ultrasonographic parameter a score (0 or 1) and summing up the scores of the four techniques, we obtained the best diagnostic performance in identifying lymph node metastases with 92.2% accuracy. In conclusion, the use of the presented algorithm provides the best identification of metastases in SLNs, helping in mammary carcinoma staging and appropriate therapeutic management.

Data regarding bitch mastitis is fairly scarce compared to the literature regarding ruminant mastitis. Neglecting clinical and subclinical cases of mastitis can be life threatening for both dam and puppies. The aim of this report is to present a case of Mastitis acuta complicated with a case of neonatal septicaemia in a Cane Corso (Canis lupus familiaris L.) pure breed female. Laboratory assays showed a milk pH value of 7.5, milk cytology revealed the presence of segmented neutrophils, while foamy cells, phagocytosis and highly pathogenic bacteria (i.e. Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) were isolated from milk and puppy. To the author's knowledge, this is the first case of bitch mastitis linked to neonatal septicaemia with mixed E. coli and P. aeruginosa infection.

The frequency of mammary tumors in canines is three times higher than in women. Contrast enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) is a noninvasive clinical method, that uses special contrast agents (CAs), their role being to layout the microvasculature of different lesions. The aim of this particular method, in this case, was to establish if we can evaluate the malignancy of a mass, given the fact that neovascularization is a malignancy marker. The case is represented by a Silky Terrier breed female dog, 5 years old, that was presented initially with an enlarged polycystic mammary gland and a nervous lactation. The female was initially diagnosed with polycystic mastosis. After 2 more months the mass became denser and enlarged. Before the ovariohisterectomy and unilateral mastectomy surgeries have taken place, a B-Mode standard ultrasound, CEUS and a pulmonary X-ray were performed. Our results integrate this case in “fast in” and “slow in” (type 2 curve). The histological diagnosis was established as a simple cystic papillary carcinoma with a malignancy grade 2. The mean value of the MVD was 13.75 which is a low MVD. We cannot determine a correlation between CEUS and a tumor’s malignancy, and so further studies are needed.

The mammary gland is very important for the health of the offspring and the mother. It is subjected to multiple pathologies, the most important being mammary tumours and mastitis. The evaluation of mammary gland in bitches is done primarily by clinical exam, but imagistic means of diagnostic became more frequently used, especially when neoplasms are involved. In this context, the aim of this study was to identify the imaging characteristic of inflamed mammary parenchyma and to test the reliability of ultrasound in evaluating canine mastitis.This study involved 12 lactating bitches of different breed and ages included in two research groups: the first group counted in 7 animals that showed clinical signs of mastitis, while the second group had 5 clinically healthy animals, being the control group. All animals were subjected to a clinical exam, followed by an ultrasound examination and milk samples collection. The ultrasound examination was done in B mode and color Doppler using both linear and microconvex transducers at a frequency of 8Mz. Milk samples were checked for color, consistency and pH and were later submitted for bacteriological and bacterioscopic examinations. All data that followed from the examinations was collected and statistically analyzed.The ultrasound examination highlighted the existence of a characteristic architecture of the layers of healthy mammary glands in the bitch. This architecture could not be seen in any of the inflamed glands. In some cases, the normal aspect of the parenchyma could still be seen at the periphery of the affected mammary gland. The inflamed parenchyma appeared either hypoechogenic (71.43% of cases) or hyperechogenic (28.57%) compared to healthy tissue. In 57.14% of cases there could be seen multiple hyperechogenic septa, alternating with hypo-echogenic areas while 42.86% of cases presented acoustic artefacts. The vascularisation was increased in the affected areas with blood flow being either linear (71.43%) or turbulent (21.57%). All cases diagnosed with mastitis were confirmed by bacteriologic and bacterioscopic studies. This study concluded that mammary glands in bitches can be investigated using ultrasound in grey scale B mode and color Doppler when mastitis is suspected. It offers irrefutable evidence of the inflammation of the glandular parenchyma and the spreading of the disease.

We conducted a study based on a survey which was original developed in a focus group with veterinarians to assess the necessity felt and expressed to optimize the chemotherapy prescription in oncological veterinary medicine, the development and implementation of a multimedia platform.The aim of this research is to test the acceptability regarding the realization and implementation of a multimedia platform to prescribe cytostatic medical treatment in the veterinary medicine.Participants in the study belonged to both genders in almost equal percentages (F: 50.94% and M: 49.06%), the majority were aged between 25-59 years, with activities in the field of veterinary medicine, with experience between 1 and 29 years.Research has revealed a high degree of utility of the platform, efficiency of information, its positive influence on the quality of care and increased availability of electronic access and purchasing power for the two types of applications - computer (on line) and mobile phone applications.

Some imaging aspects of mammary tumours in bitch were investigated in order to individualize them fromother pathologies and among themselves. 10 bitches of different breeds and ages that were presented to the Clinicof Animal Reproduction for suspicion of mammary tumours were subjected to a complete clinical examination andan imaging investigation using ultrasound and colour Doppler. Subsequently, tissue samples were collected andsent for histological diagnosis.In total there were investigated 18 tumours with an average of 1.8 tumours/animal; 94.4 % of tumourswere malignant, and 5.6% were benign. Of the malignant tumours, 82.36% had irregular margins, 88.24% wereheterogeneous and 17.65% showed areas of necrosis. In 11.76% of cases there were imaging artefacts. Increasedblood o€low was observed around the margins of the tumour in 82.36% of examined tumours using colour Doppler.The benign tumour had oval margins, mild granulation and one central blood vessel. Using ultrasound and colourDoppler examination, mammary tumours can be differentiated from other mammary pathologies and one caneven determine, with a high level of accuracy, if the tumour is malignant or benign.