title: Imaging diagnosis-ultrasonographic and CT findings in a gray seal (Halichoerus grypus) with hepatic cirrhosis, pyelonephritis, and nephrolithiasis.
abstract: An immature gray seal was presented with lethargy, weight loss, vomiting and hematuria. Hepatic disease and urinary tract infection were suspected. Abdominal ultrasound showed hyperechoic structures with marked acoustic shadowing spread throughout both kidneys, but incomplete visualization of the liver. Abdominal CT showed mineral densities scattered throughout both kidneys and poor delineation of the liver. Due to the poor quality of life, the seal was euthanized. Postmortem examination showed ammonium urate nephroliths, pyelonephritis, and hepatic cirrhosis. This case report emphasizes the difficulty of characterizing liver disease with conventional 2D-ultrasound and CT in a deep-chested animal with minimal intra-abdominal fat.
authors.affiliation: University College Dublin Veterinary Hospital, School of Veterinary Medicine, UCD, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: de Swarte
authors.forename: Jill
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bryan
authors.forename: Micaela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zarelli
authors.forename: Vihelmiina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Huuskonen
authors.forename: Wilfried
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Schneeweiss
authors.forename: Hester
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: McAllister
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D007494:Ireland; D007668:Kidney / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D053040:Nephrolithiasis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000662:veterinary*; D011704:Pyelonephritis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000662:veterinary*; D046048:Seals, Earless; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000662:veterinary; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000662:veterinary
keywords: CT; Gray seal; US; cirrhosis; nephroliths