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Gallbladder rupture is a life-treating condition in dogs. In human medicine, multidetector-row computed tomography (MDCT) is considered the best modality for the diagnosis of gallbladder rupture. The aims of the study were to describe MDCT features of gallbladder rupture in dogs and to determine the CT findings and laboratory data that differ between dogs with ruptured biliary tree and dogs with biliary disease with no rupture. For this single-center, cross-sectional study were considered for inclusion dogs presented from May 2010 to September 2020, with surgical diagnosis of gallbladder rupture or integrity, who underwent MDCT examination and with CBC and biochemistry results available for review. Forty-seven dogs with different diseases of the biliary tract were included. Seventeen dogs with confirmed gallbladder rupture and 30 dogs with intact gallbladder were included. Multiple MDCT findings showed statistical significance in distinguish dogs with gallbladder rupture: irregular contours of the gallbladder (p 0.0001), discontinuation of the gallbladder wall (p = 0.0005), adhesions with adjacent organs (p = 0.005), heterogeneous enhancement of the gallbladder wall (p = 0.01), pericholecystic effusion (p = 0.001) and pericholecystic peritonitis (p = 0.001). The presence of three or more of these findings was highly indicative for gallbladder rupture (AUC = 0.921). In this study, MDCT proved to be useful in differentiating dogs with gallbladder rupture from dogs with biliary disease without rupture.

Right auricle aneurysm (RAA) has been reported to be a rare congenital or acquired condition in dogs, however published CT characteristics are limited to a small number of cases. The aim of this 13-year, single-center, retrospective, cross-sectional study was to describe the prevalence and appearance of RAA in a larger group of dogs. Reports of 10,886 dogs that underwent thoracic CT examination for various reasons were reviewed. Computed tomographic data of dogs with presumed RAA (based on published imaging characteristics) were retrieved from the archive. Oblique multiplanar reformatted images were used to record RAA site, shape, and dimensions (neck, maximum height and width). Patients' sex, age, and body weight were evaluated for any association with the presence of RAA. Presumed RAA was detected in 23/10,886 dogs having thoracic CT in the selected period of time (prevalence 0.21%). Three RAA phenotypes were described: diffuse saccular dilation in 19 of 23 dogs, focal saccular dilation in three of 23 dogs, and fusiform in one of 23 dogs. The bodyweights of dogs with presumed RAA were significantly lower than those of the remaining 10836 dogs without RAA (median 8 kg [IQR 5; range 37.6] and median 16 kg [IQR 23; range 116.9] respectively; P 0.003. Female sex was also significantly associated with RAA (P = 0.03). Findings indicated that RAA has a low prevalence in dogs, can be detected with CT, can be present in asymptomatic dogs, and can have varying appearances. In this sample of dogs, female sex and low body weight were significantly associated with RAA.

Simple Summary The thymus is a lymphatic organ located in the cranial mediastinum. Both in humans and dogs, the thymus is largely changing with age, becoming smaller with time and also undergoing replacement of the active tissue with fat. Computed tomography is the imaging modality of election for the visualization and characterization of the thymus in human patients, and the characteristics of this organ with regard to the age of the patients are well described. On the contrary, in dogs, detailed description of the computed tomographic appearance of the thymus in adult and young patients is so far lacking. The results of this study show the different appearance of the thymus in two populations: adult dogs with diagnosed neoplasia and young dogs. The thymus is a lymphatic mediastinal organ that is largely subject to changes with age. In human patients, the CT characteristics of the thymus in children and adults is well described. Furthermore, it is known in human medicine that stress can lead to a reduction in the size of the thymus, followed by a phase of hyperplasia (called the 'rebound effect'). The visualization of thymic tissue in the cranial mediastinum of adult dogs with neoplasia is possible and could be related to a similar effect. In this study, we aimed to describe the CT characteristics of the thymus in adult dogs with neoplasia and to compare the aspect of the thymus in these dogs to juvenile dogs with a presumed normal thymus. A total of 11 adult dogs with neoplasia and 20 juvenile dogs were included. Several CT features of the thymus were evaluated, including the size, shape, and pre- and post-contrast attenuation values. The overall appearance was lobulated in all of the adult dogs and homogeneous in all of the juvenile dogs; it was left-sided in all of the adult dogs, while it was located in the midline in a few of the juvenile dogs (right-sided only in one). The thymus was less attenuating in adult dogs, in some cases with negative minimum pre-contrast attenuation values. In some dogs with neoplasia, the thymus can be detected at CT examination despite their age.

Sternal lymph nodes (SLNs) drain a multitude of regions in dogs, including the pectoral and shoulder region, the thoracic wall and mammary glands, the mediastinum, thymus, diaphragm, and the ventral abdominal wall and peritoneal cavity. Neoplastic conditions of these regions can lead to sternal lymphadenopathy. The aim of this study was to assess the most frequent localizations of the primary neoplasia and the most frequent tumor types in dogs with sternal lymphadenopathy. Computed tomographic (CT) characteristics of SLNs in dogs with confirmed neoplasia were also described. For this single-center retrospective descriptive study, dogs with sternal lymphadenopathy and cytological or histological diagnosis of neoplasia were included. Sixty dogs fulfilled the inclusion criteria: 30 (50%) with thoracic neoplasia, 19 (32%) with abdominal neoplasia, 6 (10%) with neoplasia of the front limbs and 5 (8%) with generalized neoplasia. Based on the cytological/histological diagnosis of the primary neoplasia, 31/60 (52%) dogs presented with a sarcoma, 15/60 (25%) with carcinoma, and 14/60 (23%) with round cell tumor. The presence of heterogeneous contrast enhancement was more frequent in dogs with sarcoma, while the concomitant presence of other abnormal lymph nodes was more frequent in dogs with round cell neoplasia. Tumors of different types and in different location can result in sternal lymphadenopathy in dogs. The most frequent in this study were thoracic and abdominal neoplasia, followed by neoplasia of the shoulder region. Sarcoma was the most common tumor type detected in this study, and the main CT characteristic of the SLNs in case of sarcoma was heterogeneous contrast enhancement.

Primary hyperparathyroidism in dogs is a possibly life-threatening condition, characterized by the excess of parathyroid hormone (PTH) secretion, which leads to an increase in serum ionized calcium level. The utility of computed tomography (CT) in the detection and characterization of parathyroid diseases in dogs has not been assessed to date. Therefore, the aim of this study was to describe the use of multidetector-row CT (MDCT) for the diagnosis of parathyroid disease in dogs. For this descriptive, single-center study, the database of the San Marco Veterinary Clinic was searched for dogs having a suspicion of parathyroid disease who underwent contrast-enhanced MDCT in the period from 2005 to 2021. Dogs with histopathology of the affected parathyroid gland were subsequently considered for inclusion. A total of 22 parathyroid glands were included: 12 adenomas, 8 adenocarcinomas, and two glands with hyperplasia. Several CT features were evaluated, including parathyroid gland affected, lateralization, shape, size, attenuation, and contrast-enhancement. Although the overlap between the appearance of different diseases exists, contrast-enhanced CT was a useful method for the diagnosis of parathyroid disease in dogs.

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.

A 4-year-old nulliparous Labrador Retriever bitch and a 7-year-old nulliparous crossbreed bitch were referred for weakness and vomiting. Ultrasonographic examination revealed in both cases a large abdominal mass-lesion with corpuscular fluid content; computed tomography examination revealed in both cases the uterine origin of the lesions, with findings consistent with torsion. Surgery confirmed the uterine torsion upon the ovarian pedicle in both cases, and at histological examination both presented a uterine polyp associated with haemorrhage and necrosis of the uterine wall. Both patients were released in good clinical conditions.

A six-year-old intact male Chihuahua dog was referred for vomiting, diarrhoea and weight loss. Ultrasonographic (US) and computed tomographic examination revealed a focal thickening in the jejunum, with no signs of gross metastatic disease. Histology and immunohistochemistry performed after surgical resection revealed a presumed large granular lymphocytic lymphoma. Treatment with chlorambucil was started, and no signs of recurrence were noticed at serial US follow-up for the following months. Six months after surgery, several lesions were seen in the ventrolateral aspect of the peritoneal cavity both on ultrasonography and CT, and cytology confirmed the suspicion of peritoneal lymphomatosis.

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.

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 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