Colour Doppler ultrasound imaging of blood flows variations in neoplastic and non‐neoplastic testicular lesions in dogs

Abstract

Testicular tumours are the most common neoplasms in male dogs accounting for approximately 90% of all tumours affecting the genitourinary tract. Gray-scale ultrasonography in combination with colour and power Doppler imaging has been well accepted as an accurate technique for assessing scrotal lesions and vascularization of the testis. Colour Doppler sensitivity for low blood flows appears promising in the study of testicular disorders. The aim of this study was to assess if colour and power Doppler ultrasound is a good tool for the investigation of testicular lesions in dogs, to report the sonographic features of lesions and to measure colour and power Doppler parameters such as resistive index (RI), pulsatility index (PI), hypovascularization and hypervascularization (VI) determining if they can be used to distinguish testicular neoplasms from the wide spectrum of non-neoplastic pathological findings. In this study, 50 male dogs of various breeds, aged between 7 and 14 years, presented with testicular disorders were selected. RI and PI were calculated. Mean RI values for neoplastic, inflammatory and degenerative lesions were 0.54, 0.45 and 0.58, respectively. Mean PI values were 0.62, 0.55 and 0.63, respectively. Hypovascularization and hypervascularization of the lesion were evaluated throughout the vascularity index (VI). Vascular signals in neoplasms were significantly intensified around and inside the mass if compared with those measured during inflammatory and degenerative lesions. VI markedly increased in solid tumours. Pathological testes were removed; macroscopical, histological and immunoistochemical evaluations were carried out. Colour Doppler showed increased intralesional and peripheral flows in all neoplastic lesions analysed. No flows were detected around cysts.

Metastatic Seminoma in a Male Alpine Goat: Clinical and Histopathological Approach

“…Seminoma has been described in species including dogs, horses, humans and rams with a distinct macroscopic presentation in each case [1,2,5,8]. The present findings are the second ever seminoma reported in goats, and particularly this case presented liver metastasis, showing the pathologic potential of this neoplasia for this species, and it differed from those reported previously [6] who described ulcerative lesions in, and adhesion of the skin covering the testis.…”

“…Even though US cannot be considered as a conclusive diagnostic, it may help to reach a prognosis by the tumor's characteristics. Color Doppler US evaluation can also differentiate between neoplastic and non-neoplastic testicular masses by blood flow assessment, as the neoplastic testicle normally presents increased blood flow within the tumoral mass [1].…”

“…Seminomas are germ cell tumors mainly originating from spermatogonia in the seminiferous tubules and are characterized by spherical or polyhedral neoplastic cells [4,8]. Seminoma has been described in several domestic animal species [1,2,8] and in humans [5]. Nevertheless, in goats, only a single case was reported previously [6].…”

Advanced ultrasound techniques in small animal reproduction imaging

“…Doppler ultrasound was used to differentiate benign from malignant lesions of the canine testes. In neoplasmatic lesions Doppler vascular signals were significantly increased around and inside the masses when compared with those measured in inflammatory and degenerative lesions (Bigliardi et al, ).…”

“…Doppler ultrasound was used to differentiate benign from malignant lesions of the canine testes. In neoplasmatic lesions Doppler vascular signals were significantly increased around and inside the masses when compared with those measured in inflammatory and degenerative lesions (Bigliardi et al, 2019). Prostatic perfusion in the dog using CEUS was firstly described in 2001 and in 2009, with the use of different UCA (Hagen et al, 2001;Russo et al, 2009).…”