title: Acoustic radiation force impulse elastography of the spleen in healthy dogs of different ages.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the elastographic characteristics of splenic parenchyma in clinically healthy dogs of various ages in order to establish preliminary qualitative and quantitative standards/reference intervals for this technique.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty three healthy dogs categorized as young, adult and elderly were used. Splenic echotexture, echogenicity, size and ages were assessed with B-mode ultrasonography. Using qualitative elastography, the spleen (head, body and tail) was examined for homogeneity and presence of deformities. Shear velocities in different splenic segments were then quantitatively evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All splenic segments visualised with the B-mode ultrasonography appeared normal. Different splenic segments examined with qualitative elastography were free of any detectable malformations and the images appeared as homogeneous dark areas. The mean shear velocity values were 2 · 32 m/s for head, 2 · 16 m/s for body and 2 · 25 m/s for tail of the spleen (P = 0 · 40), and they did not vary between the different age groups (P > 0 · 05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Quantitative and qualitative ARFI elastography of the spleen in clinically healthy dogs differing in age could be easily performed, and it may aid in the diagnosis and evaluation of splenic abnormalities routinely assessed in veterinary practice with B-mode ultrasonography.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery Veterinary, College of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences, Sao Paulo State University (UNESP), Jaboticabal, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Maronezi
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Reproduction, College of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences, Sao Paulo State University (UNESP), Jaboticabal, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: M A R
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Feliciano
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery Veterinary, College of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences, Sao Paulo State University (UNESP), Jaboticabal, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: L Z
authors.initials: LZ
authors.lastname: Crivellenti
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Reproduction, College of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences, Sao Paulo State University (UNESP), Jaboticabal, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: A P R
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Simões
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Bartlewski
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Gill
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery Veterinary, College of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences, Sao Paulo State University (UNESP), Jaboticabal, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: J C C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Canola
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Reproduction, College of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences, Sao Paulo State University (UNESP), Jaboticabal, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: W R R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Vicente
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004285:Dogs / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D054459:Elasticity Imaging Techniques / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D012016:Reference Values; D013154:Spleen / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*