Today's Veterinary Practice

NOV-DEC 2017

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44 IMAGING ESSENTIALS PEER REVIEWED hydroureter from a normal renal vessel, color Doppler or power Doppler can be used, focusing on the renal hilum ( Figure 13 ); the anechoic tubular structures with flow within their lumen are vascular and should not be mistaken for the abnormally distended ureter. Abnormalities of the Retroperitoneum Retroperitoneal transudate appears as linear, triangular, or oval anechoic to hypoechoic foci adjacent to the kidneys. These changes can be seen with accumulation of urine or blood, following trauma to the kidneys and/or ureters. Retroperitoneal exudate and acute hemorrhage are usually more echogenic because of their higher cell count. Inflammatory processes, such as acute pyelonephritis and ureteritis, can cause the retroperitoneal fat to become hyperechoic and hyperattenuating. Retroperitoneal abscesses can be caused by migrating plant awns in some regions of the country. They have thickened, irregular walls and often present as anechoic to hypoechoic masses, with or without septae and internal echogenic debris. 37 Retroperitoneal masses may occur secondary to granulomas, neoplasia, or enlarged sublumbar lymph nodes. They can be variable in size, shape, and echogenicity. Hemangiosarcoma is a common neoplasm of the canine retroperitoneal space ( Figure 14 ). 38 SUMMARY Abnormalities of the kidneys and ureters are commonly seen when urinary bladder abnormalities are present. A systematic examination of the urinary system is a routine part of the complete abdominal evaluation. References 1. Walter PA, Feeney DA, Johnston GR, Fletcher TF. Feline renal ultrasonography: quantitative analyses of imaged anatomy. Am J Vet Res 1987;48(4):596-599. 2. Barella G, Lodi M, Sabbadin LA, Faverzani S. A new method for ultrasonographic measurement of kidney size in healthy dogs. J Ultrasound 2012;15(3):186-191. 3. Mareschal A, d'Anjou MA, Moreau M, et al. Ultrasonographic measurement of kidney-to-aorta ratio as a method of estimating renal size in dogs. Vet Radiol Ultrasound 2007;48(5):434-438. 4. Hart DV, Winter MD, Conway J, Berry CR. Ultrasound appearance of the outer medulla in dogs without renal dysfunction. Vet Radiol Ultrasound 2013;54(6):65 2-658. 5. Ivancic M, Mai W. Qualitative and quantitative comparison of renal vs. hepatic ultrasonographic intensity in healthy dogs. Vet Radiol Ultrasound 2008;49(4):368-373. 6. D'Anjou MA, Bedard A, Dunn ME. Clinical significance of renal pelvic dilatation on ultrasound in dogs and cats. Vet Radiol Ultrasound 2011;52(1):88-94. 7. Nyland TG, Widmer WR, Mattoon JS. Urinary tract. In: Mattoon JS, Nyland TG, ed. Small Animal Diagnostic Ultrasound. 3rd ed. St. Louis: Elsevier Saunders; 2015:557-607. 8. Hoskins JD. The Urinary System. In: Hoskins JD, ed. Veterinary Pediatrics: Dogs and Cats from Birth to Six Months. 3rd ed. Philadelphia: Saunders; 2001:371-395. 9. Burder MC, Shoieb AM, Shirai N, et al. Renal dysplasia in beagle dogs: four cases. Toxicol Pathol 2010;38(7):1051-1057. 10. Allworth MS, Hoffmann KL. Crossed renal ectopia with fusion in a cat. Vet Radiol Ultrasound 1999;40(4):357-360. 11. Hecht S. Diagnostic imaging of lower urinary tract disease. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract 2015;45(4):639-663. Elizabeth Huynh Elizabeth Huynh, DVM, is a diagnostic imaging resident and graduate student at University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine. Her interests include ultrasonography, cross-sectional imaging, and nuclear medicine. She received her DVM from Ross University, finished her clinical year at Ohio State University, and completed a diagnostic imaging internship at Animal Specialty and Emergency Center in Los Angeles, California. Clifford R. Berry Clifford R. Berry, DVM, DACVR, is a professor of diagnostic imaging at University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine. His research interests include cross-sectional imaging of the thorax, nuclear medicine, and biomedical applications of imaging. He received his DVM from University of Florida and completed a radiology residency at University of California–Davis. FIGURE 14. Long axis sagittal image of the right retroperitoneal space in an Australian shepherd. There is an irregularly shaped, heterogeneous mass with anechoic foci (white arrowhead) within the retroperitoneal space. The crosshairs demarcate the peripheral extremities of this mass in this view. A malignant neoplasm, such as hemangiosarcoma, was highly suspected; however, no cytology or histopathology was performed to confirm this suspicion.

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