Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Ultrasound sign of acute splenic torsion in dogs
By Mai, Wilfried·Published in Veterinary radiology & ultrasound : the official journal of the American College of Veterinary Radiology and the International Veterinary Radiology Association·2006·Department of Clinical Studies, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: The hilar perivenous hyperechoic triangle as a sign of acute splenic torsion in dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 5-year-old Golden Retriever was brought in for sudden abdominal pain and vomiting. The veterinarian performed an ultrasound and found a specific triangular area in the spleen that suggested acute splenic torsion, a serious condition where the spleen twists and cuts off its blood supply. This sign, along with other symptoms, helped the vet diagnose the problem quickly. The dog underwent surgery to untwist the spleen and remove any damaged tissue, and thankfully, the dog recovered well after the procedure.
People also search for: dog vomiting and abdominal pain · Golden Retriever splenic torsion · dog spleen surgery recovery
Abstract
Diagnosis of acute primary splenic torsion is challenging. The ultrasonographic appearance of this condition has been described, but other splenic diseases, such as diffuse infarction because of thrombosis, can appear very similar. We describe an additional ultrasonographic sign of acute splenic torsion; a triangular hyperechoic area at the hilus between the veins and the splenic parenchyma that is continuous with the hyperechoic mesentery. In a group of animals where acute splenic torsion was part of the ultrasound report differential diagnosis, we compared findings in dogs with torsion with findings in dogs with other splenic conditions. The presence of a hilar hyperechoic perivenous triangle was significantly associated with splenic torsion (P = 0.005). We speculate that this sign is associated with torsion because of the secondary severe, diffuse splenic enlargement. Although not pathognomonic, this sign could be used to more accurately diagnose splenic torsion in light of other findings consistent with this condition.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17009514/