Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Ultrasound findings in cats with vomiting and diarrhea
By Taeymans, Olivier et al.·Published in Veterinary radiology & ultrasound : the official journal of the American College of Veterinary Radiology and the International Veterinary Radiology Association·2011·Foster Hospital for Small Animals, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Ultrasonographic characterization of feline ileocecocolic abnormalities.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of 29 cats with gastrointestinal issues, mainly acute vomiting and diarrhea, were found to have abnormalities in the area where the small and large intestines meet. Many of these cats had enlarged lymph nodes and thickened intestinal walls, which can indicate underlying problems. While some cats showed improvement after treatment, others still needed further monitoring through follow-up ultrasounds to ensure their condition was improving. In some cases, the ultrasound changes resolved alongside the clinical signs, suggesting a connection between the two.
People also search for: cat vomiting diarrhea treatment · feline gastrointestinal ultrasound results · cat thickened intestinal wall symptoms
Abstract
The clinical signs of 29 cats with ultrasonographic abnormalities at the ileocecocolic junction were reviewed. Twenty-eight cats had gastrointestinal signs, with acute vomiting and diarrhea being most prevalent. Eighteen of 29 cats had enlarged cecal lymph nodes. Focal hyperechoic mesenteric fat was noted in 18 of 29 cats, and mild focal fluid accumulation was seen in seven of 29 cats. Six cats had a round cecum, and eight cats had cecal content. The cecal wall was thickened in 19 cats, and the ileal wall was mildly thickened in six cats. Three cats had changes involving the ascending colon adjacent to the ileocecocolic junction. Fourteen cats had no ultrasonographic evidence of changes in the remainder of the gastrointestinal tract, and 13 of these 14 cats were symptomatic for gastrointestinal disease. Four cats with resolution of the ultrasonographic changes also had resolution of clinical signs. These results suggest that ultrasonographic abnormalities at the level of the ileocecocolic junction in cats are clinically significant and are seen in cats with acute vomiting or diarrhea. Fine-needle aspirates and biopsies of the ileocecocolic area had a low diagnostic yield. When no other gastrointestinal abnormalities are detected, we therefore recommend follow-up ultrasound examinations of these patients.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21554484/