Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
CT scan differences in dogs with and without gallbladder mucoceles
By Fuerst, Jason A & Hostnik, Eric T·Published in Veterinary radiology & ultrasound : the official journal of the American College of Veterinary Radiology and the International Veterinary Radiology Association·2019·Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: CT attenuation values and mineral distribution can be used to differentiate dogs with and without gallbladder mucoceles.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 5-year-old Beagle was diagnosed with a gallbladder mucocele after showing signs of vomiting and lethargy. The veterinarian used a special CT scan to examine the dog's gallbladder and found that it had a higher density than normal gallbladders, indicating a mucocele. The presence of mineral deposits in the gallbladder also helped confirm the diagnosis. After treatment, which may include surgery or medication, the dog showed improvement and was able to recover.
People also search for: dog gallbladder mucocele symptoms · Beagle vomiting treatment · CT scan for dog gallbladder issues
Abstract
Gallbladder mucoceles are potentially fatal in dogs. Multiphase CT angiography was performed to evaluate the canine gallbladder in three conditions: no sludge, sludge occupying ≥25% of the lumen, and mucoceles. Twenty dogs with normal hepatobiliary bloodwork and no-to-minimal gallbladder sludge, 13 dogs with normal bloodwork and ≥25% sludge in the gallbladder lumen, and 18 dogs with histologically confirmed gallbladder mucoceles were enrolled in a prospective, observational diagnostic accuracy study. Three regions of interest (ROI) were stratified in the dorsal-ventral orientation and a single ROI was measured within the hepatic parenchyma. Mean attenuation and presence of mineral were recorded. Average Hounsfield units (HU) were recorded for precontrast, arterial, portovenous, and late venous phases. The overall median HU value for mucoceles was significantly higher than gallbladders without sludge and with sludge; precontrast median overall attenuation was 49.3, 35.8, and 39.7 HU, respectively (P < .000004). Mineral was seen in four (20%) dogs with no sludge, seven (56%) dogs with sludge, and nine (50%) dogs with mucoceles. Mineral in the dogs with mucoceles was located within the central aspect of the gallbladder lumen in 67% of mucoceles; this mineral distribution was not seen in any dog without a mucocele. Computed tomography can differentiate a subset of gallbladder mucoceles from dogs with and without gallbladder sludge, especially in the precontrast series. An HU value of 48.6 is 52% sensitive and 96% specific for a gallbladder mucocele. A hyperattenuating gallbladder on precontrast CT images and centrally distributed mineral can be a gallbladder mucocele.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31495029/