Ultrasonographic findings of abdominal thrombosis in dogs

Abstract

This retrospective case series study describes the clinical and vascular ultrasound findings of 26 dogs diagnosed with abdominal thrombosis. Images were selected based on the detection of intravascular echogenic thrombus or the absence of vascular flow on color Doppler, confirmed by surgery or necropsy. Images were acquired using the Mylab 40 model, with linear and microconvex multifrequency probes. All the reports were evaluated along with the corresponding images by a veterinary diagnostic imaging radiologist. The ultrasonographic aspects evaluated were echogenicity (92.3%), anechogenicity (7.7%), vascularization (11.5%), mineralization (15.4%), and recanalization (7.7%) of the thrombosis. The vascular and hemodynamic findings were dilation of the affected vein (57.7%), total occlusion of blood flow (30.8%), presence of turbulent flow (65.38%), and visualization of smoke signal (blood flow detected as moving echogenic points in dynamic bidimensional mode) (11.5%). Neoplasms (19 cases) and nephropathies (13 cases) were the most common clinical conditions in the affected dogs. Eleven cases of vascular invasion due to adrenal neoplasms were identified. The results indicate that the vascular ultrasound examination is an important method for diagnosis, as 23 of the 26 cases did not show any clinical signs of thrombosis.

Reporte de caso: Trombosis arterial en un perro Dálmata

“…Se debe tener en cuenta que hay tres factores predisponentes para la formación de trombos y son: estados de hipercoagulabilidad, alteración en el flujo sanguíneo e injuria endotelial [25]; pudiendo en la mayoría de los casos, como en el descrito previamente, no determinarse la causa exacta y denominarlos como "idiopáticos". La identificación de TA, debido a su presentación multifactorial puede llegar a ser de difícil determinación, es por ello, que se debe correlacionar con el examen físico general y anamnesis [26]; complementándolo con exámenes laboratoriales que faciliten su diagnóstico. Cabe mencionar que, el presente estudio tiene algunas limitantes, como la falta de exámenes para descartar enfermedad de Cushing o feocromocitoma como origen del trombo; en este caso en particular no se buscaron debido a la falta de signos clínicos sistémicos y anomalías en los exámenes de sangre, pero pueden ser útiles en la investigación de futuros casos similares.…”