Ultrasound of cavitated spleen masses poorly predicts cancer in dogs

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To assess the diagnostic value of the ultrasonographic description of a splenic mass or nodule as cavitated in dogs with nontraumatic hemoabdomen. ANIMALS: 106 dogs with a nontraumatic hemoabdomen that underwent abdominal ultrasonography and splenectomy with histologic examination of splenic lesions between 2005 and 2018. PROCEDURES: Medical records were reviewed for abdominal ultrasonographic and histologic findings. Diagnostic performance of ultrasonographic description of a splenic mass or nodule as cavitated as evidence of hemangiosarcoma or any malignancy was evaluated. RESULTS: Ultrasonographic description of splenic lesions as cavitated had poor diagnostic utility in predicting presence of hemangiosarcoma or malignancy. Sensitivity and specificity of this test were 41.9% (95% CI, 30.5% to 54.3%) and 51.2% (95% CI, 36.8% to 65.4%), respectively, for detecting hemangiosarcoma, with positive and negative predictive values of 55.3% (95% CI, 41.2% to 68.6%) and 37.9% (95% CI, 26.6% to 50.8%), respectively. Results were similar for detecting malignancy. Cavitated lesions outside of the spleen were too rare for statistical analysis to be of value. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggested that relying on ultrasonographic description of cavitation to diagnose splenic lesions as malignant in dogs with nontraumatic hemoabdomen is unfounded. Other preoperative diagnostic tests may be more valuable in determining short- and long-term prognoses.