title: Evaluation of endosonography as a new diagnostic tool for feline pancreatitis.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to evaluate endosonography (EUS) as a potential diagnostic tool for feline pancreatitis. Eleven healthy cats and six cats diagnosed with pancreatitis based on an increased serum feline pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity (fPLI) concentration were included. Transabdominal ultrasound (AUS) and EUS were performed in all cats. The widths of both pancreatic limbs and echogenicity and homogenicity were assessed by AUS and EUS. Finally, findings from both modalities were subjectively compared. In the healthy cats, the right pancreatic limb was significantly smaller on EUS compared to AUS. Also, subjectively, general visualization of the normal pancreas was superior with EUS and, the pancreatic margins and parenchyma could be resolved better with EUS in all sick patients. In this study, EUS findings did not alter the diagnosis in six cats with pancreatitis when compared to AUS. However, EUS may be useful in cases where AUS fails due to obesity, hyperechoic mesentery, or excessive intestinal gas.
authors.affiliation: Division of Small Animal Internal Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Berne, Berne, Switzerland. ariane.schweighauser@kkh.unibe.ch
authors.forename: Ariane
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schweighauser
authors.forename: Frédéric
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gaschen
authors.forename: Jörg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Steiner
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Allenspach
authors.forename: Thierry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Francey
authors.forename: Lorrie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gaschen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002415:Cats; D019160:Endosonography / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D010179:Pancreas / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000662:veterinary*; D012016:Reference Values; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000662:veterinary