title: Effect of screening abdominal ultrasound examination on the decision to pursue advanced diagnostic tests and treatment in dogs with neurologic disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Abdominal ultrasound examinations (AUS) are commonly performed before advanced neurodiagnostics to screen for diseases that might affect diagnostic plans and prognosis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Describe the type and frequency of abnormalities found by AUS in dogs presenting with a neurological condition, identify risk factors associated with abnormalities, and evaluate treatment decisions based on findings.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seven hundred and fifty-nine hospitalized dogs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective study. Medical records of dogs presented from 2007 to 2009 for neurologic disease were searched for signalment, neuroanatomic localization, and AUS findings. Whether dogs had advanced neurodiagnostics and treatment was analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty-eight percent of dogs had abnormal findings on AUS. Probability of abnormalities increased with age (P < 0.001). Nondachshund breeds had higher probability of abnormal AUS than dachshunds (odds ratio [OR] = 1.87). Eleven percent of dogs did not have advanced neurodiagnostics and in 1.3%, this was because of abnormal AUS. Dogs with ultrasonographic abnormalities were less likely than dogs without to have advanced neurodiagnostics (OR = 0.3 [95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.17, 0.52]), however, the probability of performing advanced diagnostics was high regardless of normal (OR = 0.95 [95% CI: 0.92, 0.97]) or abnormal (OR = 0.85 [95% CI: 0.81, 0.88]) AUS. Treatment was more often pursued in small dogs and less often in dogs with brain disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings from screening AUS had a small negative effect on the likelihood of pursuing advanced neurodiagnostics. Although it should be included in the extracranial diagnostic workup in dogs with significant history or physical examination abnormalities, AUS is considered a low-yield diagnostic test in young dogs and dachshunds.
authors.affiliation: William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, University of California School of Veterinary Medicine, Davis, CA.
authors.forename: N M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Tong
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences, University of California School of Veterinary Medicine, Davis, CA.
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Zwingenberger
authors.affiliation: William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, University of California School of Veterinary Medicine, Davis, CA.
authors.forename: W H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Blair
authors.affiliation: Clinical and Translational Science Center, School of Medicine, University of California, Sacramento, CA.
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.affiliation: Clinical and Translational Science Center, School of Medicine, University of California, Sacramento, CA.
authors.forename: R X
authors.initials: RX
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences, University of California School of Veterinary Medicine, Davis, CA.
authors.forename: B K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Sturges
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000662:veterinary*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013045:Species Specificity; D014463:Ultrasonography
keywords: Computed tomography; Magnetic resonance imaging; Myelogram; Ultrasonography