Lack of associations between ultrasonographic appearance of parenchymal lesions of the canine liver and histological diagnosis

Abstract

RESULTS: Histological diagnoses were hepatitis (n=77), nodular hyperplasia (n=47), vacuolar change (n=45), fibrosis (n=32), primary hepatic carcinoma (n=30), lymphoma (n=28), metastatic neoplasia (n=27), necrosis (n=21), lipidosis (n=17), haemangiosarcoma (n=13), round cell tumour (n=9), hepatocellular adenoma (n=8), degenerative change (n=6), steroid hepatopathy (n=7) and extramedullary haematopoiesis (n=4). The most prevalent ultrasonographic features were multifocal lesions (63% livers with haemangiosarcoma and 43% livers with hepatocellular carcinoma), diffuse lesions (71% livers with steroid hepatopathy, 44% livers with fibrosis and 40% livers with vacuolar hepatopathy), hyperechoic lesions (71% livers with steroid hepatopathy, 41% livers with lipidosis and 38% livers with fibrosis), heterogeneous lesions (62% livers with haemangiosarcoma), hepatomegaly (43% livers with steroid hepatopathy) and peritoneal fluid (62% livers with haemangiosarcoma). Target lesions were associated with malignancy in 67% instances. Marked variability in ultrasonographic appearance of lesions was observed for all diagnoses, and no statistically significant associations between ultrasonographic appearance and diagnosis were found.

ACVIM consensus statement on the diagnosis and treatment of chronic hepatitis in dogs

“…Liver size was normal in 14%‐57% of dogs with CH in several studies, but the stage of disease was unclear . Thus normal ultrasonographic appearance of the liver should not dissuade the clinician from hepatic biopsy in a dog with suspected CH …”

Penile haemangiosarcoma in a breeding stallion

“…) and ultrasonography in cases of hepatic HSA in dogs has been shown to be variable and not related to histological diagnosis (Warren‐Smith et al . ). Thus differentiation between blood‐filled sinus structures and HSAs is difficult, even with contrast enhancement.…”

Surgical Removal of a Canine Aortic Thromboembolism Secondary to Pancreatitis

“…Pancreatitis was an unexpected finding in this case, as the dog had no historical findings which would indicate that diagnosis, such as nausea, vomiting, or abdominal pain, though he did begin regurgitating/vomiting once hospitalized. Abdominal ultrasound did not show evidence of pancreatitis, though it has been shown that ultrasound is not a sensitive indicator of pancreatitis, nor hepatic or presumably renal histologic disease [37,38].…”