The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the efficacy of B-mode, Doppler, contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS), and Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse (ARFI) elastography in predicting malignancy in canine mammary masses. This was a prospective cohort study from 2014 to 2016, which included 153 bitches with one or more mammary masses. A total of 300 masses were evaluated by ultrasonography (B-mode, Doppler, CEUS, and ARFI) and subsequently classified as benign or malignant by histopathology. Each ultrasound parameters studied were compared between benign and malignant masses by Chi-square or Student tests and differences were considered significant when P < 0.01. For the variables that proved significant differences were estimated the cut-off point, sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and area under curve (AUC) by receiver-operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis in a logistic regression model using histopathological classification as reference, to assess and compare diagnostic performance of each technique. Out of 300 mammary masses evaluated 246 were classified as malignant and 54 as benign. B-mode measurements showed sensitivity 67.9%, and specificity 67.6% as malignancy predictors on canine mammary masses; Doppler indexes systolic (>21.2 m/s) and diastolic velocity (>4.8 m/s) sensitivity 79.2% and specificity 70.8%; CEUS wash-out time (<80.5 s) sensitivity 80.2% and specificity 16.7%; and ARFI elastography shear velocity (SWV > 2.57 m/s) sensitivity 94.7% and specificity 97.2% In conclusion B-mode and Doppler ultrasound evaluations may assist in malignancy prediction of canine mammary masses with moderate sensitivity and specificity, already the SWV was an great accurate predictor. Therefore, ARFI elastography exam inclusion in veterinary clinic oncology and research is highly recommended, since it allows fast, non-invasive, and complication-free malignancy prediction of canine mammary masses.

The use of acoustic radiation force impulse elastography may help to differentiate between malignant and benign mammary neoplasms.

The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the diagnostic accuracy of B-mode, Doppler ultrasonography and Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse (ARFI) elastography in the identification of axillary and inguinal lymph nodes metastasis in bitches with mammary neoplasms. The axillary (n = 96) and inguinal (n = 100) lymph nodes of 100 bitches were evaluated using B-Mode, Colour Doppler and ARFI-elastography. After this evaluation, mastectomy and lymph nodes excision were performed and these structures were histologically classified as free, reactive or metastatic. Ultrasonographic parameters were compared by Chi-Square or ANOVA tests and if they are significant, discriminative power analysis according to histopathological classification was performed (ROC analysis). The ARFI-elastography shear wave velocity (SWV) enabled metastasis identification in inguinal (sensitivity 95% specificity 87%) and axillary lymph nodes (sensitivity 100% specificity 94%). While B-Mode ultrasound Short/Long axis ratio evaluation of inguinal and axillary lymph nodes only resulted in a sensitivity around of 71% and specificity of 55%. In conclusion, B-Mode ultrasonography may contribute to diagnosis of metastasis in axillary and inguinal lymph nodes of bitches affected by mammary neoplasm with limited accuracy, while SWV evaluation proved to be an excellent diagnosis tool, which allows differentiation between free, reactive and tumour metastatic lymph nodes.

The objective was to characterize the vascular patterns of testicular blood flow of adult cats, measuring the systolic velocity (SV), diastolic velocity (DV), resistance index (RI), gate time (wash-in) peak enhancement and output time (wash-out) of the contrast and addition of tissue fill characteristics. Forty-five adult cats were selected, and the echotexture, echogenicity, size, contours and margins of testicles were assessed via ultrasound. By Doppler were evaluated the blood flow and determined of vascular index in testicular artery (SV, DV and RI) and via contrast-enhanced ultrasonography determine the time for phases: wash-in, wash-out and peak enhancement. Sonographic findings presented normal. Testicular artery was observed in the spermatic cord with tortuous patter and showed monophasic-patterned waves and low vascular resistance and with systolic peak evident. Values of indices vascular were as follows: SV = 6.73 cm/s, DV = 2.8 cm/s and RI = 0.54 for left testicles; and SV = 6.23 cm/s, DV = 2.77 cm/s and RI = 0.53 for right testicles. Contrast filled the subcapsular vascular structures and after a few seconds, a homogeneous moderate enhancement of the parenchyma, with parenchymal vessels still distinguishable and after the peak phase, a rapid homogeneous decrease in echogenicity. Values of time for contrast-enhanced ultrasonography were as follows: wash-in = 8.78 s, peak enhancement = 21.62 s and wash-out = 75.36 for left testicles; and wash-in = 10.76 s, peak enhancement = 21.50 s and wash-out = 81.81 for right testicles. Doppler and contrast-enhanced ultrasonography of the testicles in healthy adult cats was easily implemented and may provide baseline data for this organ to allow the use of these techniques as a diagnostic tool for evaluating testicular abnormalities in sick cats.

The aetiology of septic acute kidney injury (AKI) is not completely elucidated. Early identification of AKi in septic patients is considered to improve survival rate since it allows rapid treatment onset. We evaluated clinical, haematological, urinary, B-mode, spectral Doppler, and contrast-enhanced ultrasound variables in 20 bitches with pyometra as sepsis models and 12 healthy controls. All animals with pyometra presented some degree of renal damage on histological examination; however, sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) classified only 40% cases with sepsis. AKI derived from systemic infection was identified in 57% of cases with hypoperfusion and in 22% with inflammation, being an affection of multifactorial origin. Among the evaluated parameters, urinary protein/creatinine ratio >0.15, serum albumin <2.94 mg/dL, time-averaged minimum velocity <21.5 cm/s, renal length/ aorta diameter ratio >5.93, pulsatility index >1.53, haematocrit <45%, time-averaged maximum velocity <45.7 cm/s, haemoglobin <16 g/dL, leukocytes >12.53 × 10 3 /uL, and cortical contrast peak intensity <69%, in the order of accuracy, are significant indicators of septic AKI with an accuracy >80%. thus, AKi is a very prevalent condition in septic patients, derived mainly from changes in renal perfusion and inflammation. Additionally, reviewing the SOFA score parameters is suggested to identify renal failure.