Today's Veterinary Practice

SEP-OCT 2016

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T O day' S Ve T erinary Prac T ice | September/October 2016 | tvpjournal.com i maging e SS en T ia LS Peer r eviewed 66 Abnormalities: Urethra Urethral Calculi e nlargement of the urinary bladder with dilation of the proximal urethral lumen suggests urethral obstruction. Occasionally, small, curvilinear, hyperechoic foci with distal acoustic shadowing can be seen proximal to the os penis in male dogs. Urethral Neoplasms c ommon urethral neoplasms in dogs include T cc , S cc , and adenocarcinoma. Urethral T cc is associated with a hypoechoic and thickened wall with a hyperechoic mucosal lining (Figure 13 ). 15 S cc is most commonly associated with the distal urethra. Spread of prostatic neoplasia is possible in the proximal urethra and into the urinary bladder. IN SUMMARY Systematic examination of the urinary system is a routine part of a complete abdominal evaluation. a complete US examination of the urinary system is required as abnormalities of the kidneys and ureters are commonly seen in conjunction with urinary bladder lesions. S cc = squamous cell carcinoma; T cc = transitional cell carcinoma; US = ultrasound References 1. g eisse a L, Lowry J e , Schaeffer d J, Smith c W. Sonographic evaluation of urinary bladder wall thickness in normal dogs. Vet Radiol Ultrasound 1997; 38:132-137. 2. Lamb cr , g regory SP. Ultrasonography of the ureterovesicular junction in the dog: a preliminary report. Vet Rec 1994; 134:36-38. 3. Lamb cr . Ultrasonography of the ureters. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract 1998; 28:823-848. 4. Stiffler KS, Stevenson mm , m ahaffey m B, et al. i ntravesical ureterocele T cc is heterogeneous, and its overall appearance can be hyperechoic, isoechoic, or hypoechoic relative to the bladder wall. 13 T cc s can be extensive, invading the ureters, urethra, and/or prostate, causing lower urinary tract obstruction and hydronephrosis. 14,15 These tumors are typically very vascular and may have areas of dystrophic mineralization. Squamous cell carcinoma (S cc ) is a urinary bladder neoplasm of epithelial origin. Urinary bladder neoplasms of mesenchymal origin include botryoid rhabdomyosarcoma, chemodectoma, leiomyosarcoma, leiomyoma, fibroma, fibrosarcoma, hemangioma, hemangiosarcoma, lymphoma, and mast cell tumor. 16 d ifferentiation of urinary bladder neoplasms is not possible ultrasonographically; biopsy or traumatic catheterization is needed for definitive diagnosis. Figure 13. Long-axis sagittal image of the proximal urethra in a mixed-breed dog. The proximal urethra (arrowheads) is hypoechoic and subjectively, diffusely thickened containing an oval-shaped, hyperechoic structure within its wall (arrow). These findings are consistent with a mineralized urethral neoplasm, such as transitional cell carcinoma. tvpjournal.com | September/October 2016 66

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