Ultrasound and histopathological analysis of the gallbladder in dogs

Abstract

In Veterinary Medicine, diseases restricted to the gallbladder (GB) are uncommon in dogs. The histopathological examination of GB is considered the gold standard. However, abdominal ultrasound examination is increasingly included in the veterinary clinical routine, as it allows changes in previously underdiagnosed GB to have a more accurate diagnosis. The aim of this study was to identify, quantify and correlate the different aspects of GB in dogs through ultrasound and histopathological examinations. The GB of 60 dog cadavers were evaluated, without predilection for sex, age, and breed. The results demonstrated that the ultrasound examination, when compared to the histopathological examination, presented 83% agreement in the analysis of general data for the presence or absence of GB changes. The level of agreement in the Kappa test was considerably high (K=0.63). There was a high agreement in the diagnosis of changes observed by ultrasound and histopathological examinations, when compared “affected” or “non affected”. However, when compared the findings of mucocele, cystic mucinous hyperplasia and cholecystitis, there is a low Kappa agreement. Thus, ultrasound examination is an excellent tool for identifying changes related to the GB. However, more studies must be carried out to deepen the understanding of the correlation between imaging and pathological findings to lead diagnostic conclusions.