Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
How abdominal ultrasound and lipase tests relate to pancreatitis
By Cridge, Harry et al.·Published in Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine·2020·College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University Department of Clinical Sciences, , Mississippi State, Mississippi·View original on Crossref →
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Original publication title: Association between abdominal ultrasound findings, the specific canine pancreatic lipase assay, clinical severity indices, and clinical diagnosis in dogs with pancreatitis
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 5-year-old Golden Retriever was brought to the vet for vomiting and abdominal pain, which led to a diagnosis of pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas). The vet performed an abdominal ultrasound and a specific blood test for pancreatic lipase to assess the dog's condition. While the ultrasound showed some changes in the pancreas, it was not a reliable method for diagnosing pancreatitis on its own or for determining how severe the condition was. The dog received treatment for pancreatitis and improved with supportive care, including dietary changes and medication.
People also search for: dog vomiting pancreatitis treatment · Golden Retriever abdominal ultrasound results · pancreatitis diagnosis in dogs
Abstract
Abstract Background A clinical diagnosis (CDx) of pancreatitis includes evaluation of clinical signs, abdominal ultrasound (AUS), and pancreatic lipase. However, practitioners are using AUS to diagnose pancreatitis and are using AUS severity to guide decisions. The validity of this is unknown. Objectives To determine whether (1) there is a correlation between AUS, specific canine pancreatic lipase (Spec cPL) assay, and CDx; (2) individual AUS abnormalities correlate more closely with CDx than others; (3) AUS severity mirrors clinical severity indices; (4) changes in AUS can be used as a marker for changes in Spec cPL or CDx; and (5) the sensitivity and specificity of AUS for pancreatitis. Animals One hundred fifty-seven dogs. Methods In this retrospective case study, inclusion criteria were signs of gastrointestinal, pancreatic disease, or both, in addition to having a Spec cPL and AUS performed within 30 hours. Information extracted from the records included bloodwork, Spec cPL, AUS images/clips, and severity of ultrasonographic findings. Results AUS was weakly correlated with Spec cPL (rs = .0178, P = .03) and moderately correlated with CDx (rs = .379, P = <.001). Pancreatic size (rs = .285, P = <.001), echogenicity (rs = .365, P = <.001), and mesenteric echogenicity (rs = .343, P = <.001) were correlated with CDx. Change in AUS was not correlated with Spec cPL or CDx changes. When pancreatic enlargement, echogenicity, or altered mesenteric echogenicity were required for a diagnosis, the sensitivity and specificity were 89% (95% confidence interval [CI] 71.8, 97.7) and 43% (95% CI 34.0, 51.6). When all 3 criteria were required, the sensitivity and specificity were 43% (95% CI 24.5, 62.8) and 92% (95% CI 85.3, 95.7). Conclusions AUS should not be used in isolation to diagnose pancreatitis and is a poor indicator of severity.
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Search related cases →Original publication on Crossref: https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.15693