Canine Splenic Disease: A Clinico-Pathological and Ultrasonographical Study

Hankanga, Careen (1995) Canine Splenic Disease: A Clinico-Pathological and Ultrasonographical Study. MVM(R) thesis, University of Glasgow.

Abstract

During the last two decades, two-dimensional ultrasonography has been introduced in the evaluation of abdominal disease. It provides a rapid non- invasive means of supplementing information obtained by physical examination and radiography. Ultrasonography accurately depicts changes in size, shape and spatial relationships of abdominal organs; however, limitations include the non-specific nature of many observed abnormalities, which prevents a definite diagnosis. The aim of this study was to assess the accuracy of ultrasonography in detecting disease affecting the canine spleen by comparison with clinicopathological findings. Scanning was performed on the ventral abdominal wall using a 3.75 MHz curvilinear probe. Fourteen cases were studied, 13 dogs and one cat. Non-specific clinical signs were seen in the cases studied and variable sonographic appearances. One case of haemangioma was presented, the ultrasonographic lesion was of mixed echogenicity. Two cases of haemangiosarcoma also showed a mixed echogenicity with acoustic enhancement. The sonographic appearance of splenic nodular hyperplasia varied between hyperechoic, heteroechoic, and hypoechoic. Cystic structures seen in this study include a splenic abscess, haematoma and anechoic masses on the liver; all appeared hypoechoic to anechoic with acoustic enhancement and edge shadowing. Splenic lymphosarcoma showed multifocal hypoechoic lesions. Metastatic adenocarcinoma was seen in two cases as multifocal hypoechoic lesions; both cases had hepatic involvement. Splenic infarcts were seen as hypoechoic areas causing distortion of the splenic capsule. Malignant fibrous histiocytoma was seen sonographically as a heteroechoic lesion with some areas casting distal acoustic enhancement. One case had nodular lesions which were not confirmed by the histopathological examination, however, extramedullary haematopoiesis was a main feature in this and another case which sonographically showed multifocal linear hypoechoic areas which were deduced to be dilated splenic vessels. The conclusion of this study is that ultrasonography is an important modality for studying the canine spleen.

• Item Type: Thesis (MVM(R))
• Qualification Level: Masters
• Additional Information: Adviser: A S Nash
• Keywords: Veterinary science
• Date of Award: 1995
• Depositing User: Enlighten Team
• Unique ID: glathesis:1995-74940
• Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
• Date Deposited: 27 Sep 2019 15:04
• Last Modified: 27 Sep 2019 15:04
• URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/74940