Errors in abdominal ultrasonography in dogs and cats.
OBJECTIVE
To compare ultrasonographic diagnoses with the findings of surgical exploration to identify and classify potential diagnostic errors.


METHODS
A cross-sectional prospective study of surgically confirmed ultrasound findings was conducted over a period of 29 months in two veterinary hospitals. Any errors in diagnosis made by the sonographer were classified as perceptual, cognitive, equipment-related, inevitable or multifactorial.


RESULTS
One hundred and five ultrasound examinations were performed in 88 dogs and 17 cats. Errors in ultrasound diagnosis occurred in 17 animals (16·2%). These errors were identified as cognitive in 10 animals, inevitable in 5 and multifactorial in 2.


CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrates that whilst errors of diagnosis do occur during ultrasonographic examination of the abdomen, understanding the causes of these errors will contribute to the development of this imaging modality.
Department of Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba,, Brazil.
D A A
DA
Garcia
Tilde R
TR
Froes
D000005:Abdomen / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D000818:Animals; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002415:Cats; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003951:Diagnostic Errors / Q000662:veterinary*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000662:veterinary*