title: Prevalence of malignancy when solitary versus multiple lesions are detected during abdominal ultrasonographic examination of dogs with spontaneous hemoperitoneum: 31 cases (2003-2008).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the histopathologic diagnosis in dogs with spontaneous hemoperitoneum when abdominal ultrasonographic examination detects a solitary versus multiple lesions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Private veterinary hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Client-owned dogs presented with spontaneous hemoperitoneum between March 1, 2003 and June 1, 2008.
  
  
  METHODS
  Dogs were divided into 2 groups based on presence of a solitary or multiple abdominal ultrasonographic lesions. Prevalences were compared between groups for malignancy and specifically hemangiosarcoma.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ten of 31 (32%) dogs had a solitary abdominal ultrasonographic lesion and 21 of 31 (68%) had more than 1 lesion. The bleeding tissue was characterized as malignant in 8 of 10 (80%) dogs with solitary lesions and 17 of 21 (81%) dogs with multiple lesions; there was no significant difference (P=1.0) between groups. In this study no association (P=0.26) was found between the number of abdominal ultrasonographic lesions observed and subsequent diagnosis of hemangiosarcoma.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Solitary abdominal ultrasonographic lesions in dogs with spontaneous hemoperitoneum do not necessarily indicate a lower prevalence of malignancy.
authors.affiliation: VCA Newark Animal Hospital, Newark, DE 19711, USA. joshua.levinson@vcahospitals.com
authors.forename: Joshua G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Levinson
authors.forename: Jennifer L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Bouma
authors.forename: Gary C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Althouse
authors.forename: Teresa M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Rieser
mesh_terms: D000008:Abdominal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000662:veterinary*; D000818:Animals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D006465:Hemoperitoneum / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014463:Ultrasonography