Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Liver size measured by CT in dogs with portosystemic shunts
By Stieger, Susanne M et al.·Published in Veterinary radiology & ultrasound : the official journal of the American College of Veterinary Radiology and the International Veterinary Radiology Association·2007·Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Hepatic volume estimation using quantitative computed tomography in dogs with portosystemic shunts.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of dogs with portosystemic shunts (abnormal blood vessels that bypass the liver) underwent a special type of CT scan to measure their liver size. The study found that these dogs had smaller livers compared to healthy dogs. After surgery to correct the shunt, three dogs showed a significant increase in liver size over the following months. This suggests that measuring liver volume with CT scans can help veterinarians assess and monitor dogs with this condition before and after surgery.
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Abstract
The purpose of this study was to use quantitative computed tomography (CT) to estimate liver volume in dogs with a portosystemic shunt and to compare the liver volume in normal dogs to dogs with a shunt. Twenty-one dogs with a portosystemic shunt underwent contrast-enhanced abdominal CT for shunt characterization and preoperative planning. Six dogs without clinical signs relating to liver disease were used as a control group. In addition, liver volume was compared before and 2-4 months after surgical shunt attenuation in three dogs. All studies followed established clinical imaging protocols. Liver margins were defined on each image using an operator-defined region of interest and hepatic volume renderings were produced from which the liver volume was quantitatively estimated. There was a statistically significant association between liver volume and body weight in control and shunt dogs (r = 0.909 and 0.899, respectively, P < 0.01). Liver volume normalized to body weight was 15.5 +/- 5.2 cm3/kg in affected dogs and 24.5 +/- 5.6 cm3/kg in control dogs. Based on postligation CT studies in three affected dogs, liver volume increased by 43%, 51%, and 62%. Hepatic volume estimation may be a clinically useful parameter in the initial and postsurgical evaluation of dogs with portosystemic shunts.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17899972/