Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
How abdominal ultrasound and lipase tests relate to pancreatitis
By Harry Cridge et al.·Published in Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine·2020·Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine Mississippi State University Mississippi State Mississippi, GB·View original on DOAJ →
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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 with symptoms of vomiting and abdominal pain, leading to a diagnosis of pancreatitis. The veterinarian performed an abdominal ultrasound and a specific 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. The vet decided to treat the dog with supportive care, including a special diet and medications, which helped the dog recover over time.
People also search for: dog pancreatitis symptoms · Golden Retriever vomiting treatment · abdominal ultrasound for dog pancreatitis
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 DOAJ: https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.15693