title: Qualitative and quantitative contrast-enhanced ultrasonographic assessment of cerulein-induced acute pancreatitis in dogs.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Acute pancreatitis (AP) is the most common disease of the canine exocrine pancreas, and accurate noninvasive diagnosis is challenging.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the feasibility of using quantitative contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) to detect pancreatic perfusional changes in cerulein-induced AP in dogs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Six adult female Beagles.
  
  
  METHODS
  Each dog received 2 hours of IV infusion with 7.5 μg/kg/h of cerulein diluted in saline. As control, all dogs received 2 hours of IV infusion of saline 2 weeks before cerulein infusion. CEUS of the pancreas and duodenum were performed before (0 hour), and at 2, 4, 6, and 12 hours after saline and cerulein infusion. Time-intensity curves were created from regions of interest in the pancreas and duodenum. Five perfusional parameters were measured for statistical analysis: time to initial up-slope, peak time, time to wash-out, peak intensity (PI), and area under the curve (AUC).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In cerulein-induced AP, pancreatic PI increased at 2 and 4 hours when compared to 0 hour, and at 2, 4, and 6 hours when compared to control. AUC increased at 4 hours when compared to 0 hour, and at 2 and 4 hours when compared to control. Time to wash-out was prolonged at 4 hours when compared to control. For saline control, peak time was faster at 2 hours when compared to 0 hour.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CEUS parameters PI and AUC can provide useful information in differentiating acute pancreatitis from normal pancreas. Cerulein-induced AP was characterized by prolonged hyperechoic enhancement on CEUS.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Veterinary Internal Medicine, Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Hokkaido, Japan.
authors.forename: S Y
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Morishita
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sasaki
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Murakami
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Osuga
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ohta
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yamasaki
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Takiguchi
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000818:Animals; D002108:Ceruletide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D010179:Pancreas / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000662:veterinary*; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D002108:Ceruletide
keywords: Contrast-ultrasound; Inflammation; Pancreas; Perfusion