Doppler and Contrast‐Enhanced Ultrasonography of Testicles in Adult Domestic Felines

Abstract

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.

Changes in testicular size, echotexture, and arterial blood flow associated with the attainment of puberty in Dorper rams raised in a subtropical climate

“…Doppler ultrasonographic indices of the testicular arteries taken in the convoluted aspect of the vessels (i.e., spermatic cord) in the present Dorper rams have revealed a monophasic blood flow pattern of low resistance, with long, recurrent systolic peaks, and high diastolic flow velocity (Figure b). There were no significant differences between peri‐ and postpubertal rams for any of the velocimetric indices in this study (Table ), and they were similar to those reported for sexually mature dogs (Carillo et al., ; Souza et al., ; Zelli et al., ), cats (Brito et al., ) and stallions (Pozor & McDonnell, ). Postnatal development of testicular vasculature in rams has been poorly studied (Camela et al., ).…”

“…Ultrasound techniques are becoming increasingly important in animal reproduction, offering both a means of diagnosis and a useful predictor of fertility in males of domestic species (Chandolia, Bartlewski et al., ; Chandolia, Honaramooz, Bartlewski, Beard, & Rawlings, ; Pozor, ; Bollwein, Schulze, Miyamoto, & Sieme, ; Ahmadi et al., ; Brito et al., ; Moxon et al., ; Souza et al., ). B‐mode, gray‐scale ultrasonography enables the visualization of scrotal content, and evaluation of the shape, size, and echotexture of testicles and epididymides (Ahmadi et al., ).…”

Can testicular artery Doppler velocimetry values change according to the measured region in dogs?

“…Besides that, studies have demonstrated the usefulness of Doppler analysis as an additional tool for the andrological examination of males in different species, such as stallions (Ortiz‐Rodriguez et al, ), toms (de Brito et al, ), kids (Samir et al, ), rams (Batissaco et al, ), bulls (Guido, Guido, Santos Filho, & Wischral, ), dogs (England et al, ) and men (Pinggera et al, ).…”

“…Testicular artery blood flow can be measured using radioactive microspheres (Noordhuizen‐Stassen, De Jong, MacDonald, Schamhardt, & Wensing, ); however, modern methods such as Doppler ultrasonography have been described in men, other domestic species and, more recently, dogs (de Brito et al, ; England et al, ; Gloria et al, ; Ortiz‐Rodriguez et al, ; Sakamoto et al, ; Souza, Cunha Barbosa et al, ; Zelli, Troisi, Elad Ngonput, Cardinali, & Polisca, ).…”

Ultrasonographic tools used in the evaluation of the canine spleen: A review

“…In veterinary medicine, the ARFI technique is a recent development and has been used to evaluate focal liver lesions in rats (Carvalho et al, 2012), mammary tumours in bitches (Feliciano et al, 2014a), and queens (Feliciano et al, 2015c), prostate and testes in dogs , kidneys (Garcia et al, 2015), testes (Brito et al, 2015), and spleen in cats (Feliciano et al, 2014b), spleen, liver, and kidneys in adults dogs (Holdsworth et al, 2014), and spleen in healthy dogs of diff erent age .…”