Comparison between ultrasonographic and clinical findings in 43 dogs with gallbladder mucoceles.

Abstract

Cholecystectomy is the current standard recommended treatment for dogs with gallbladder mucoceles. However, medical management with monitoring has also been recommended for asymptomatic dogs. The purpose of this retrospective study was to compare ultrasonographic patterns of gallbladder mucoceles with clinical disease status in a group of dogs. For each included dog, the ultrasonographic pattern of the mucocele was classified into one of six types: type 1, immobile echogenic bile; type 2, incomplete stellate pattern; type 3, typical stellate pattern; type 4, kiwi like pattern and stellate combination; type 5, kiwi like pattern with residual central echogenic bile; and type 6, kiwi like pattern. A total of 43 dogs were included. Twenty-four dogs, including 11 dogs with gallbladder rupture, were symptomatic. Nineteen dogs were asymptomatic. Cholecystectomy (n = 19), medical therapy (n = 17), or monitoring (n = 6) treatments were applied according to clinical signs and owners' requests. One dog suspected of having gallbladder rupture was euthanized. Frequencies of gallbladder mucocele patterns were as follows: type 1 = 10 (23%), type 2 = 13 (30%), type 3 = 5 (12%), type 4 = 11 (26%), type 5 = 4 (9%), and type 6 = 0. In dogs with gallbladder rupture, type 2 (8/13) was the most common. No significant correlations were found between ultrasonographic patterns of gallbladder mucoceles and clinical disease status or gallbladder rupture. Findings indicated that ultrasonographic patterns of gallbladder mucoceles may not be valid bases for treatment recommendations in dogs.

• Authors: Jihye Choi, Ahyoung Kim, Seoyeon Keh, Juyeon Oh, Hyunwook Kim, Junghee Yoon
• Journal: Veterinary radiology & ultrasound : the official journal of the American College of Veterinary Radiology and the International Veterinary Radiology Association (Vet Radiol Ultrasound) 2014 Mar-Apr Vol. 55 Issue 2 Pg. 202-7 ISSN: 1740-8261 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 24219310 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: © 2013 American College of Veterinary Radiology.

Topics

• Animals
• Cholecystectomy (veterinary)
• Dog Diseases (diagnostic imaging, pathology, therapy)
• Dogs
• Female
• Gallbladder (pathology)
• Gallbladder Diseases (diagnostic imaging, pathology, therapy, veterinary)
• Male
• Mucocele (diagnostic imaging, pathology, therapy, veterinary)
• Retrospective Studies
• Rupture, Spontaneous (diagnostic imaging, pathology, therapy, veterinary)
• Ultrasonography