title: Acalculous cholecystitis in four canine cases: ultrasonographic findings and use of ultrasonographic-guided, percutaneous cholecystocentesis in diagnosis.
abstract: Canine cholecystitis is diagnosed infrequently. Clinical signs, physical examination findings, and clinicopathological abnormalities are nonspecific. Few reports exist of associated ultrasonographic findings which also are nonspecific for the disorder. Ultrasonographic-guided, percutaneous cholecystocentesis has been suggested for diagnostic confirmation. The present report further documents ultrasonographic findings associated with canine acalculous cholecystitis and demonstrates the utility of ultrasonographic-guided, percutaneous cholecystocentesis in confirmation of the diagnosis in a prospectively acquired clinical case series.
authors.affiliation: Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, St. Paul 55108, USA.
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Rivers
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Walter
authors.forename: G R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Johnston
authors.forename: L K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Merkel
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Hardy
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001706:Biopsy / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D002764:Cholecystitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011859:Radiography; D014463:Ultrasonography