title: Acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) elastography of the spleen in healthy adult cats--a preliminary study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the splenic stiffness of healthy adult cats using acoustic radiation force impulse elastography to determine the quality (greyscale images and tissue deformity) and quantity (shear velocity) standards.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifteen healthy, adult shorthair cats were selected. The echotexture, echogenicity, size and edges of the spleen were assessed via mode-B ultrasound. Using qualitative elastography, specific portions of the spleen were evaluated according to homogeneity, presence of deformities and white and dark regions. The shear velocities in different portions of the spleen were quantitatively evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The echotexture, echogenicity, size and edges of the spleen were normal on B-mode ultrasound in all cats. On qualitative elastography, the evaluated splenic portions were not deformable, and the images presented as homogeneous dark areas. On quantitative elastography, the mean shear velocity values were 1 · 98 m/s for the head portion, 1 · 77 m/s for the body portion and 2 · 03 m/s for the tail portion. These were not significantly different.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Quantitative and qualitative acoustic radiation force impulse elastography of the spleen in healthy adult cats was easily implemented and this study may provide baseline data for this organ to allow the future use of this technique in evaluating cats with splenic disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Reproduction, College of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences - Sao Paulo State University (UNESP), Jaboticabal, Jaboticabal, Brazil.
authors.forename: M A R
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Feliciano
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Maronezi
authors.forename: L Z
authors.initials: LZ
authors.lastname: Crivellenti
authors.forename: S B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Crivellenti
authors.forename: A P R
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Simões
authors.forename: M B S
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Brito
authors.forename: P H S
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.forename: W R R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Vicente
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D054459:Elasticity Imaging Techniques / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D013154:Spleen / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*