Ultrasonography and biochemical studies of hepatobiliary system in buffaloes

Abstract

The present work was undertaken to study the ultrasonographic and clinico-biochemical parameters of hepatobiliary system in apparently healthy adult non gravid buffaloes. The present study revealed that, the hepatic parenchyma was homogenously coarse echogenic, interspersed with anechoic bands of hepatic vessels, with sharp margin and was hyperechoic relative to right renal cortex. It was imaged from just behind the last rib to the 6th intercostal space. The gallbladder was visualized between the 12th to 9th intercostal spaces, seen as a pear-shaped fluid-filled anechoic structure with hyperechoic wall, restricted to one to two intercostal spaces. The portal vein was seen as a stellate, branching, anechoic structure with hyperechoic wall and the hepatic vein as anechoic tubular structure with anechoic wall within the hepatic parenchyma. The caudal vena cava was observed as a triangular anechoic structure in transverse view and tubular in longitudinal view. It is concluded that the ultrasonography is a useful tool for the non-invasive examination of liver. Its sonographic appearance and parameters measured in healthy buffaloes can serve as reference values for the diagnosis of pathological changes in liver.