title: Correlation of ultrasonographic findings with surgical, portographic, and necropsy findings in dogs and cats with portosystemic shunts: 63 cases (1987-1993).
abstract: Results of abdominal ultrasonography in 63 dogs and cats with suspected congenital portosystemic shunts (PSS) were compared with surgical, portographic, and necropsy findings. True-positive ultrasonographic results were found in 33 animals, and 2 animals had false-positive results for detection of single extrahepatic PSS. In 4 animals, results were true negative and in 8 animals, were false-negative for detection of extrahepatic PSS. The false-negative rate decreased substantially with operator experience. The sensitivity of ultrasonography for detection of extrahepatic PSS in these animals was 80.5%, and the specificity was 66.7%. In 5 other animals, ultrasonographic examination was strongly suggestive of the existence of a shunt, but the vessel could not be definitively imaged. All 5 animals had single extrahepatic shunts. Eleven animals had true-positive results for detection of intrahepatic PSS. One animal had false-positive ultrasonographic results for intrahepatic PSS, but an extrahepatic shunt was diagnosed at surgery. The sensitivity of ultrasonography for detection of intrahepatic PSS was 100%.
authors.affiliation: Section of Surgery, Veterinary Hospital, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia 19104-6010, USA.
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Holt
authors.forename: C G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Schelling
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Saunders
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Orsher
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001947:Breeding; D002415:Cats / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000601:surgery; D004285:Dogs / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D011168:Portal System / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D011172:Portography / Q000662:veterinary; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D018616:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex