B-mode and Doppler ultrasound imaging of the spleen with canine splenic torsion: a retrospective evaluation.
The ultrasonographic appearance of splenic torsion has been described; the splenic parenchyma can be normal, hypoechoic or anechoic with interspersed linear echoes (coarse/"lacy" appearance). The ultrasonographic parenchymal appearance of 15 dogs in this report with splenic torsion varied: mottled hypoechoic regions (n=2), diffusely hypoechoic (n=11) and normal (n=2). Because splenic torsion causes vascular congestion due to splenic vein compression and eventual thrombosis, visible splenic vein intraluminal echogenicities compatible with thrombi were seen in 13 dogs using B-mode. Using spectral Doppler and color Doppler imaging of the splenic veins, no measurable flow velocities were detected in any of the 15 dogs. The varied B-mode ultrasonographic appearance of the splenic parenchyma with splenic torsion necessitates B-mode evaluation of the splenic veins for intraluminal echoes and spectral or color Doppler evaluation for absent velocity flow.
Department of Clinical Studies, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia 19104-6010, USA.
H M
HM
Saunders
P J
PJ
Neath
D J
DJ
Brockman
D000818:Animals; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000662:veterinary; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000662:veterinary; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D016491:Peripheral Vascular Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000662:veterinary; D013154:Spleen / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D013158:Splenic Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000662:veterinary*; D013162:Splenic Vein / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013163:Splenomegaly / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000662:veterinary; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000662:veterinary; D014102:Torsion Abnormality / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000662:veterinary; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler / Q000662:veterinary*; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color / Q000662:veterinary