title: Contrast harmonic ultrasound appearance of consecutive percutaneous renal biopsies in dogs.
abstract: Ultrasound-guided percutaneous renal biopsy may be associated with complications, especially when using larger needles. Contrast harmonic ultrasound increases blood pool echo intensity, enhancing parenchymal lesions. Therefore, contrast harmonic ultrasound is a potential alternative screening method for postbiopsy renal lesions. Renal biopsies were performed using 14 G needles in 11 healthy Beagles, at three occasions: 0 ("Baseline Biopsy"; BB), 4 ("Biopsy 2"; B2), and 6 months ("Biopsy 3"; B3). Ultrasound and contrast harmonic ultrasound of biopsied kidneys were performed approximately 30 min after biopsy (week 0) at BB and B2, and repeated once every week (weeks 1-3) until normal appearance. At B3, only contrast harmonic ultrasound was performed, both immediately and 30-min postbiopsy. Contrast harmonic ultrasound images were reviewed using subjective and semiquantitative methods to describe lesions including number, shape, size, sharpness, echogenicity, and evolution. More renal lesions were detected with contrast harmonic ultrasound (22/22) compared with conventional ultrasound (14/22). The majority appeared at week 0 as hypoechoic tract(s) (27/33), the other (6/ 33) as ill-defined areas or area/tract combination, all having variable size, shape, and echogenicity. Seven tracts had a small subcapsular hematoma. In most kidneys, similar or gradual decrease of size and sharpness, and increased echogenicity was observed until normal appearance occurred at week 1 (1/22), week 2 (18/22), or week 3 (22/22). Two Beagles developed complications. At B3, immediately postbiopsy, tracts were hyperechoic in 9/11 kidneys, becoming hypoechoic again 30 min later. Contrast harmonic ultrasound is a valuable method to evaluate postbiopsy renal lesions in dogs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medical Imaging and Small Animal Orthopedics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium. hendrikhaers@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Hendrik
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Haers
authors.forename: Pascale
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Smets
authors.forename: Pascaline
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pey
authors.forename: Koen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Piron
authors.forename: Sylvie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Daminet
authors.forename: Jimmy H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Saunders
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D003287:Contrast Media; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D007668:Kidney / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000293:injuries / Q000473:pathology*; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000662:veterinary; D011897:Random Allocation; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods* / Q000662:veterinary; D014945:Wound Healing
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media