Ultrasonographic intestinal muscularis thickening in dogs with histologically confirmed inflammatory bowel disease: 13 cases (2010–2021)

Abstract

Ultrasonographic intestinal muscularis thickening has not been described as an imaging feature of canine inflammatory bowel disease. In this retrospective case series, patients were identified by searching sonographic reports for “muscularis” and/or “muscular layer.” Patients were included if small intestinal muscularis thickening was reported, and sonographic images and histopathological samples of the small intestine were available for review. Cases with small intestines nodules, masses, or complete loss of wall layering were excluded. Sonographic images were retrospectively evaluated for jejunal muscularis layer thickness, and ratios of intestinal layer measurements were performed. Histological samples were retrospectively reviewed. Thirteen dogs met inclusion criteria: all dogs had sonographic intestinal muscularis thickening relative to the submucosa (>1.0, range of 1.3–2.5), and most dogs had muscular layer thickness above normal published ranges (11/13; all 13/13 above the weight‐specific mean). More than half of the patients had overall normal wall thickness (11/13) and several had normal mucosal echogenicity (6/13). Therefore, in some dogs, the only sonographic abnormality in the small intestine was muscularis thickening. No dogs had lymphadenomegaly. Endoscopic partial‐thickness (n = 11, duodenum and/or ileum) or surgical full‐thickness (n = 2) samples confirmed inflammatory bowel disease. Direct comparison between jejunum sonographic characteristics and histology features was limited due to both partial thickness biopsies and lack of direct comparison between anatomical locations of ultrasonographic assessment and biopsy site. However, no cases that met the inclusion criteria had normal small intestinal histology. Comparable to cats, dogs with ultrasonographic intestinal muscularis thickening may have inflammatory bowel disease, and further workup for enteropathy is indicated.

Intestinal Ultrasonography in Dogs with Acute Renal Injury: Prospective Assessment of the Renal-Intestinal Axis: A Randomized Clinical Study

“…10,19 Farklı hastalıklarda (akut pankreatitis, hipoadrenokortisizm, parvoviral enteritis ve yangısal bağırsak hastalığı), bağırsak duvar değişimlerinin ultrasonografiyle incelendiği araştırmalar olduğu hâlde daha önce renal hasarı bulunan köpeklerde ultrasonografi ile bağırsak duvar kalınlıkları ve anormalliğinin belirlendiği herhangi bir araştırmayla karşılaşılmamıştır. [21][22][23][24]…”