title: Quantitative perfusion analysis of the pancreas and duodenum in healthy dogs by use of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate contrast-enhanced ultrasonography as a minimally invasive method for the subjective and quantitative assessment of pancreatic and duodenal perfusion in healthy adult dogs, with reference to perfusion in adjacent liver tissue.
  
  
  METHODS
  8 clinically normal adult dogs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Contrast-enhanced ultrasonograms of the right pancreatic limb, proximal portion of the descending duodenum, and adjacent liver were acquired after i.v. administration of a microbubble contrast medium. Following subjective evaluation, quantitative time-intensity curves were generated from regions of interest in the pancreas, duodenum, and liver. Five contrast medium characteristics representing perfusion parameters were determined for each organ and used for statistical analysis: interval to arrival, inflow rate, peak intensity (PI), time of peak intensity (TPI), and outflow rate.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant associations between pancreatic and duodenal values were found for interval to contrast medium arrival, PI, TPI, and outflow rate. Pancreatic and duodenal inflow rates were not correlated. Inflow and outflow rates were significantly faster and TPI significantly shorter for the pancreas and duodenum, compared with values for the liver. There was no significant difference among all 3 organs for interval to arrival and PI of contrast medium. Subjective evaluation findings corresponded to quantitative analysis results.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results suggested that contrast-enhanced ultrasonography may be a useful, minimally invasive method for evaluating pancreatic and duodenal perfusion in dogs. The data from healthy dogs reported here could aid in the assessment of pancreatic and duodenal conditions and their response to medical treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA. jneitman@sbcglobal.net
authors.forename: Jennifer L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Johnson-Neitman
authors.forename: Robert T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: O'Brien
authors.forename: Johna D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Wallace
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000737:chemistry; D004285:Dogs / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D004386:Duodenum / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D008099:Liver / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D045423:Microbubbles; D010179:Pancreas / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D055420:Perfusion Imaging / Q000379:methods* / Q000662:veterinary; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods* / Q000662:veterinary
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media