title: Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography of the pancreas in healthy cats.
abstract: This study describes the pattern of ultrasonographic contrast enhancement of the pancreatic body and left lobe using a second-generation commercial contrast medium (Sonovue) in 10 clinically healthy cats.
  
  
  
  Following contrast medium administration, microbubbles were observed within the splenic artery. This was followed by an inflow of contrast medium into the pancreatic capillary beds, providing a uniformly contrast-enhanced pancreas at peak intensity (PI). At the time of PI, a replenishment of the splenic and portal veins started and increased progressively during the wash-out phase. During the wash-out phase, the echogenicity of the pancreatic parenchyma decreased progressively. Perfusion parameters included arrival time (4.69 ± 1.26 s), time to peak from injection (7.52 ± 1.88 s), time to peak from initial rise (2.84 ± 0.88 s), peak intensity (6.58 ± 2.66 a.u.), and wash-in rate (2.11 ± 1.79 a.u./s).
  
  
  
  This perfusion pattern of normal pancreatic parenchyma may be useful for characterising cats with exocrine pancreatic disorders.
authors: Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra 50, I-40064, Ozzano Emilia, Bologna, Italy. alessia.diana@unibo.it.
authors: Alessia
authors: A
authors: Diana
authors: Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra 50, I-40064, Ozzano Emilia, Bologna, Italy. nikolina.linta@unibo.it.
authors: Nikolina
authors: N
authors: Linta
authors: Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra 50, I-40064, Ozzano Emilia, Bologna, Italy. mario.cipone@unibo.it.
authors: Mario
authors: M
authors: Cipone
authors: Freelance sonographer, Messina, Italy. valeria.fedone@tiscali.it.
authors: Valeria
authors: V
authors: Fedone
authors: Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA. jsteiner@cvm.tamu.edu.
authors: Joerg M
authors: JM
authors: Steiner
authors: Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra 50, I-40064, Ozzano Emilia, Bologna, Italy. federico.fracassi@unibo.it.
authors: Federico
authors: F
authors: Fracassi
authors: Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra 50, I-40064, Ozzano Emilia, Bologna, Italy. annamaria.grandis@unibo.it.
authors: Annamaria
authors: A
authors: Grandis
authors: Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra 50, I-40064, Ozzano Emilia, Bologna, Italy. marco.barontoaldo@unibo.it.
authors: Marco
authors: M
authors: Baron Toaldo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D010179:Pancreas / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013459:Sulfur Hexafluoride / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D010743:Phospholipids; C420843:contrast agent BR1; D013459:Sulfur Hexafluoride