Changes of ultrasonographic pattern of the spleen examined with a high‐frequency linear transducer during growth in puppies

Abstract

A normal spleen is a homogeneous, finely textured, and hyperechoic organ. The development of high‐frequency transducers has enabled the examination of the structural features of the spleen. Thus, the spleen can appear mildly mottled, even in normal dogs, and this could be misinterpreted as an abnormality. The purpose of this prospective, longitudinal, descriptive study was to describe the ultrasonographic pattern of the splenic parenchyma using a high‐frequency transducer in puppies. The study included nine, normal, client‐owned puppies that were born healthy. Transabdominal ultrasonographic examination was performed from 4 to 60 weeks serially every 4 weeks. Ultrasonographic patterns of the spleen were graded as follows: granular, mild reticulonodular, moderate reticulonodular, and marked reticulonodular pattern. The examinations were performed by one veterinary clinician, and the grades of the ultrasonographic patterns were determined by two veterinary clinicians experienced in ultrasonography, based on consensus. Differences and associations between time and the grade of the splenic parenchyma were determined using the paired t‐test and scatter plots. There was a strong quadratic relationship between time and the grade of the splenic parenchyma. It was found that the splenic parenchymal patterns changed with increasing age, with a granular appearance initially at 4 weeks, followed by a reticulonodular pattern with well‐defined hypoechoic nodules—most marked between 28 and 36 weeks, after which this pattern decreased until there was a homogeneous granular pattern again at 60 weeks. These findings should not be misinterpreted as being indicative of a disease in normal puppies, particularly those aged between 28 and 36 weeks.

Anatomical and Ultrasonographical Studies on the Spleen of Red Fox (Vulpes Vulpes) from Western Egyptian Desert

“…The spleen normally showed homogeneous echotexture, but when using a high-frequency linear array transducer, the spleen showed coarser architecture and a more heterogeneous appearance. This is in a line with the results of a previous study on puppies (Hwang 2020).…”

“…Therefore, a normal splenic scan does not mean an absence of diseases. Similar findings were reported before in puppies (Hwang 2020).…”

Діагностична Сонографія При Абдомінальній Хірургії У Тварин

“…Дослідження селезінки застосовується для визначення стану тварин при плановій діагностиці [18]. Також ультразвукові дослідження селезінки проводять для моніторингу росту та розвитку тварин малих розмірів [44].…”

The nature of abdominal surgery for polycystic kidney disease in animals and the role of sonographic indicators at different stages of surgical intervention: A literature review

“…The image measures the distance between opposite points on the periphery of the cyst. Y Hwang et al (2020). note that for a more accurate assessment of the cyst size, it is necessary to make several measurements in different projections and calculate the average value.It is important to get images in different projections to assess the shape of the cyst.…”