Ultrasonographic Description of Canine Mastitis

Abstract

Ultrasonographic images were acquired of the mammary glands of 40 bitches with physiologically lactating (n = 20) or inflamed glands (n = 20). Echogenicity, structure, homogeneity, thickness, and distinguishability of each tissue layer were assessed. Additionally, overall echogenicity was noted. In the normal lactating gland, different tissues could be differentiated easily. The parenchyma was, without exception, separated from adjacent tissues and was visible as medium echogenic tissue with a coarse-grained structure. The tissue always had some echogenic lines and anechoic areas and was slightly heterogeneous. The loss of distinct layering of the tissue was characteristic of an inflamed mammary gland and inflamed regions had reduced echogenicity. Additionally in five bitches with mastitis, the ultrasound examination was repeated five times for documentation of the progress of the illness and associated changes, supplemented with a color Doppler sonogram to assess changes in blood vessel density. Information from the examinations carried out via B-mode did not allow treatment success to be predicted. Two bitches with reduced blood vessel density centrally had a poor outcome whereas three bitches with increased blood vessel density had a good outcome. Thus, Doppler sonography might be a useful tool to obtain information of the prognosis in acute canine mastitis.

Conventional and Doppler ultrasound for the differentiation of benign and malignant canine mammary tumours

“…It is important to note that ultrasound with 12 MHz high resolution transducers was not used in other studies (Nyman and others 2006b; Bastan and others 2009). Detailed visualisation of smaller structures may be challenging without the use of high resolution ultrasound (Trasch and others 2007). In contrast, our study included the use of high resolution ultrasound, which enabled clear visualisation of neoplastic architecture.…”

Ultrasound Imaging of Mammary Glands in Dairy Heifers at Different Stages of Growth

“…Ultrasonographic characteristics of mammary glands affected with mastitis have been described in cows [2,7,10,31], ewes [15], sows [5], and bitches [28]. Particularly in dairy cows, teats and mammary glands parenchyma have been examined via ultrasonography in both healthy [7,13,14,18,31] and diseased cases [7,9,10,13].…”

Mastitis canina gangrenosa: reporte de caso

“…Estos hallazgos son compatibles con la literatura que describe el tejido inflamado con ecogenicidad disminuida y dificultad para distinguir los tejidos adyacentes, cuando se compara con una glándula mamaria sana (TRASCH et al, 2007).…”