Imaging Diagnosis—traumatic Abomasitis Caused by Foreign Bodies in a Cow

Abstract

A 2-year-old Holstein cow presented with a history of colic signs of 3 days' duration that had not responded to routine medical therapy. Physical examination findings were consistent with tachycardia and colic. Ultrasonographic examination of the abomasum revealed a thin hyperechoic line producing a cone shadow. Radiography of the cranial abdomen revealed two radiopaque objects within the abomasum. Right paracostal laparotomy and abomasotomy permitted palpation and manual removal of two metallic foreign bodies and a small quantity of gravel. The animal recovered well after surgery and no signs of colic were observed. Her appetite and rumination were also improved.

Ultrasonographic documentation of type-3 abomasal ulcer in a cow with left displacement of the abomasum

“…However, a tentative diagnosis can sometimes be made indirectly based on ultrasonographic findings; omental bursitis is strongly suggestive of type-5 abomasal ulcer [5] and generalised peritonitis is suggestive of type-4 ulcer [4]. Other abomasal disorders that have been diagnosed sonographically include malignant lymphoma [13] and a metal foreign body in the abomasum of a cow [14]. The present report is apparently the first to describe a cow with type-3 abomasal ulcer in which the perforated ulcer as well as the inflammatory lesions caused by the ulcer could be imaged ultrasonographically.…”