Effects of Corn Oil Administered Orally on Conspicuity of Ultrasonographic Small Intestinal Lesions in Dogs With Lymphangiectasia

Abstract

Lymphangiectasia is one of the causes of protein-losing enteropathy in dogs and characteristic ultrasonographic small intestinal lesions have been previously described. The purpose of this study was to determine whether corn oil administered orally (COAO) would result in increased conspicuity of these characteristic small intestinal ultrasonographic lesions in dogs with lymphangiectasia. Affected dogs were included if they underwent corn oil administered orally and had a surgical full-thickness intestinal biopsy diagnosis of lymphangiectasia. Control dogs had normal clinical examination and standard laboratory test findings. Ultrasound images of duodenum, jejunum, and ileum were obtained prior to and 30, 60, 90, and 120 min after corn oil administered orally for all dogs. Parameters recorded for each ultrasound study were intestinal wall thickness, mucosal echogenicity, and presence or absence of hyperechoic mucosal striations (HMS) and a parallel hyperechoic mucosal line (PHML). Nine affected and five controls dogs were included in the study. Seven of the nine dogs with lymphangiectasia had hyperechoic mucosal striations prior to corn oil administered orally. Jejunal hyperechoic mucosal striations were significantly associated with lymphangiectasia at multiple time points (P < 0.05) and were best identified in dogs with lymphangiectasia 60 or 90 min after corn oil administered orally. Increased mucosal echogenicity was observed in all dogs at multiple time points after corn oil administered orally. A parallel hyperechoic mucosal line was present in the jejunum in 4/5 healthy and 6/9 dogs with lymphangiectasia at one or more time points after corn oil administered orally. Findings indicated that corn oil administered orally improves conspicuity of characteristic ultrasonographic lesions in dogs with lymphangiectasia, however some of these lesions may also be present in healthy dogs that recently received a fatty meal.

Gastrointestinal Ultrasonographic Findings in Cats With Feline Panleukopenia Virus: a Case Series

“…However, this nding is non-speci c, and in a previous study was observed in cats with lymphoid hyperplasia, extramedullary hematopoiesis, passive congestion, lymphoma, carcinoma, and histiocytosis, as well as in healthy animals [21]. The use of very high-frequency transducers (11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18), which improve the quality of images, may also be partly responsible for the high rate of this particular pattern in our cats.…”

“…Abdominal B-mode examination was performed in conscious cats placed in dorsal recumbency using a GE-LogiQ S8 (GE Healthcare, Milan, Italy) with a high-frequency transducer (11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18). Prior to ultrasound, hair was clipped on the abdominal area, and coupling gel was used.…”

Gastrointestinal Ultrasonographic Findings In Cats With Feline Panleukopenia Virus: A Case Series

“…There were 11 intact females (52.4%) and 10 intact males (47.6%) with a median age of 3 months (range: 1. [5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24]. Twelve (57%) survived and 9 (43%) died.…”

“…Undoubtedly, in cats with acute gastroenteritis caused by FPV this finding cannot be explained by fibrosis, which typically develops in chronic processes; whether the band represents visible lymphatic vessels similar to dogs [16] requires further investigation.…”

“…Abdominal B-mode examination was performed in conscious cats, placed in dorsal recumbency using a GE-LogiQ S8 (GE Healthcare, Milan, Italy) with a high-frequency transducer (11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18). (mm) were evaluated in both longitudinal and transverse planes.…”