title: EVALUATION OF THE COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHIC "SENTINEL CLOT SIGN" TO IDENTIFY BLEEDING ABDOMINAL ORGANS IN DOGS WITH HEMOABDOMEN.
abstract: The CT "sentinel clot sign" has been defined as the highest attenuation hematoma adjacent to a bleeding organ in humans with hemoabdomen. The aims of this retrospective descriptive multicenter study were to describe CT findings in a sample of dogs with surgically or necropsy confirmed intra-abdominal bleeding and determine prevalence of the "sentinel clot sign" adjacent to the location of bleeding. Medical records between 2012 and 2014 were searched for dogs with hemoabdomen and in which the origin of the bleeding was confirmed either with surgery or necropsy. Retrieved CT images were reviewed for the presence and localization of the "sentinel clot sign," HU measurements of the "sentinel clot sign" and hemoabdomen, and presence of extravasation of contrast media within the abdominal cavity. Nineteen dogs were included. Three dogs were excluded due to the low amount of blood that did not allow the identification of a "sentinel clot sign." A "sentinel clot sign" was detected in the proximity of the confirmed bleeding organ in 14/16 (88%) of the patients. The mean HU of the "sentinel clot sign" was 56 (range: 43-70) while that of the hemoabdomen was 34 (range: 20-45). Active hemorrhage was identified as extravasation of contrast medium within the peritoneal cavity from the bleeding organ in three dogs. In conclusion, the CT "sentinel clot sign" may be helpful for identifying the source of bleeding in dogs with hemoabdomen.
authors: Diagnostic Imaging Service of the Istituto Veterinario di Novara, Granozzo con Monticello, NO, Italy.
authors: Swan
authors: S
authors: Specchi
authors: Diagnostic Imaging Service of the Istituto Veterinario di Novara, Granozzo con Monticello, NO, Italy.
authors: Edoardo
authors: E
authors: Auriemma
authors: Diagnostic Imaging Service of the Istituto Veterinario di Novara, Granozzo con Monticello, NO, Italy.
authors: Simona
authors: S
authors: Morabito
authors: Internal Medicine Service of the Istituto Veterinario di Novara, Granozzo con Monticello, NO, Italy.
authors: Filippo
authors: F
authors: Ferri
authors: Internal Medicine Service of the Istituto Veterinario di Novara, Granozzo con Monticello, NO, Italy.
authors: Eric
authors: E
authors: Zini
authors: the Centro Diagnostico Veterinario TAC Luni Mare, Luni Mare, Ortonovo SP, Italy.
authors: Valentina
authors: V
authors: Piola
authors: the Clinica Veterinaria dell'Orologio, BO, Italy.|Antech Imaging Services, Irvine, CA, 92614.
authors: Pascaline
authors: P
authors: Pey
authors: the Clinica Veterinaria dell'Orologio, BO, Italy.|the Centro Diagnostico Veterinario TAC Luni Mare, Luni Mare, Ortonovo SP, Italy.
authors: Federica
authors: F
authors: Rossi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D006406:Hematoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000662:veterinary*
keywords: CT; canine; sentinel clot sign; small animals; spleen