Correlation of ultrasonographic findings with surgical, portographic, and necropsy findings in dogs and cats with portosystemic shunts: 63 cases (1987-1993)

• Published in: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association Vol. 207; no. 9; p. 1190
• Main Authors: Holt, D E, Schelling, C G, Saunders, H M, Orsher, R J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01-11-1995
• Subjects: Animals; Breeding; Cats - abnormalities; Cats - surgery; Dogs - abnormalities; Dogs - surgery; Female; Liver - diagnostic imaging; Male; Portal System - abnormalities; Portal System - diagnostic imaging; Portal System - surgery; Portography - veterinary; Retrospective Studies; Sensitivity and Specificity; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex
• ISSN: 0003-1488
• DOI: 10.2460/javma.1995.207.09.1190

Results of abdominal ultrasonography in 63 dogs and cats with suspected congenital portosystemic shunts (PSS) were compared with surgical, portographic, and necropsy findings. True-positive ultrasonographic results were found in 33 animals, and 2 animals had false-positive results for detection of single extrahepatic PSS. In 4 animals, results were true negative and in 8 animals, were false-negative for detection of extrahepatic PSS. The false-negative rate decreased substantially with operator experience. The sensitivity of ultrasonography for detection of extrahepatic PSS in these animals was 80.5%, and the specificity was 66.7%. In 5 other animals, ultrasonographic examination was strongly suggestive of the existence of a shunt, but the vessel could not be definitively imaged. All 5 animals had single extrahepatic shunts. Eleven animals had true-positive results for detection of intrahepatic PSS. One animal had false-positive ultrasonographic results for intrahepatic PSS, but an extrahepatic shunt was diagnosed at surgery. The sensitivity of ultrasonography for detection of intrahepatic PSS was 100%.