title: Qualitative ultrasonography of the liver in obese cats.
abstract: A prospective study was undertaken to compare the relative echogenicity of the liver and the fat of the falciform ligament in two groups of clinically normal obese cats. In the first group of cats, four of eight normal weight cats were fed a high calorie diet ad libitum for a 12 week period at which time they were considered obese. The liver was hyperechoic when compared to the adjacent fat of the falciform ligament in the obese cats. In the second group of cats, the body condition of a group of eight clinically normal cats was subjectively graded. On ultrasonographic examination, the liver of those cats considered to be overweight were hyperechoic compared to the adjacent fat of the falciform ligament. Results from this study suggest that clinically normal obese cats may have a liver that is hyperechoic relative to the fat of the falciform ligament.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison 53706, USA.
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Nicoll
authors.forename: R T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: O'Brien
authors.forename: M W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Jackson
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002415:Cats; D002149:Energy Intake; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000662:veterinary; D008022:Ligaments / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008064:Lipidoses / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000662:veterinary; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000662:veterinary*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014463:Ultrasonography