title: Prevalence and radiologic and histologic appearance of vesicourachal diverticula in dogs without clinical signs of urinary tract disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine prevalence and radiologic and histologic appearance of vesicourachal diverticula in dogs without clinical signs of urinary tract disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Original study.
  
  
  METHODS
  50 dogs between 4 months and 17 years old representing 22 breeds that had been euthanatized for unrelated reasons; none of the dogs had a history or clinical signs of urinary tract disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrograde positive-contrast radiography was performed, and radiographs were examined for macroscopic diverticula. Necropsy specimens from the urinary bladder vertex were examined by means of light microscopy for diverticula and signs of inflammation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  17 of the 50 (34%) dogs had vesicourachal diverticula, and 1 additional dog had a urachal cyst. Fifteen of the 17 diverticula were macroscopic; surface area of the diverticulum could be measured radiographically in 13 of these dogs and ranged from 1 to 90 mm2. The remaining 2 diverticula were microscopic. Sixteen diverticula were intramural and 1 was extramural. Light microscopic signs of bladder wall inflammation could be detected in 5 dogs, 4 of which had macroscopic diverticula.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results suggest that a high percentage of dogs without clinical signs of urinary tract disease may have vesicourachal [corrected] diverticula. Further studies are needed to determine the clinical relevance of vesicourethral diverticula in dogs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery and Ophthalmology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Veterinarplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Groesslinger
authors.forename: Tanja
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tham
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Egerbacher
authors.forename: Dragan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lorinson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004240:Diverticulum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D011859:Radiography; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000293:injuries / Q000473:pathology; D001745:Urinary Bladder Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*