Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
How abdominal ultrasound and lipase tests relate in diagnosing dog
By Cridge, Harry et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary internal medicine·2020·Department of Clinical Sciences·View original on PubMed →
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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 group of 157 dogs showing signs of gastrointestinal issues were evaluated for pancreatitis using abdominal ultrasound (AUS) and a specific blood test for pancreatic lipase. The study found that while AUS can provide some information, it should not be relied upon alone for diagnosing pancreatitis, as it showed weak correlation with the blood test results. Key ultrasound findings like pancreatic size and echogenicity were somewhat helpful, but overall, AUS was not a reliable indicator of the disease's severity. It's important for pet owners to understand that a combination of tests is necessary for an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan.
People also search for: dog pancreatitis symptoms · abdominal ultrasound for dog pancreatitis · pancreatic lipase test in dogs
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 (r= .0178, P = .03) and moderately correlated with CDx (r= .379, P = <.001). Pancreatic size (r= .285, P = <.001), echogenicity (r= .365, P = <.001), and mesenteric echogenicity (r= .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 PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31951054/