Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Ultrasound shows small intestine thickness in dogs with inflammatory
By Rudorf, H et al.·Published in The Journal of small animal practice·2005·Institute of Clinical Veterinary Science·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Ultrasonographic evaluation of the thickness of the small intestinal wall in dogs with inflammatory bowel disease.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 75 dogs with suspected inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) had their intestinal wall thickness measured using ultrasound to see if it could help diagnose the condition. While the dogs showed a positive response to immunosuppressive treatment, the ultrasound measurements did not reliably indicate inflammation, meaning some dogs could be misdiagnosed. The study suggests that a wall thickness greater than 6 mm in the duodenum or 4.7 mm in the jejunum could be considered abnormal. This information may help vets assess IBD in dogs more accurately.
People also search for: dog inflammatory bowel disease symptoms · dog ultrasound intestinal wall thickness · treatment for dog IBD
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To establish whether the intestinal wall thickness, as measured ultrasonographically, is significantly increased in dogs with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The results would provide the information necessary to decide whether measurement of ultrasonographic wall thickness can predict IBD in dogs. METHODS: The intestinal wall thickness of 75 dogs with idiopathic IBD, as measured by ultrasonography, was compared with recently published normal values. IBD was either confirmed histologically (n = 54) or suspected (n = 21). In all cases there was a positive response to immunosuppressive treatment. RESULTS: A positive association between intestinal wall thickness in dogs and either the histological diagnosis or the response to treatment was not found. Ultrasonographic intestinal wall measurements do not appear to be able to establish a diagnosis of intestinal inflammation and may result in a false negative diagnosis in cases of IBD. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The same 'grey zone' of between 4 and 6 mm used in humans can be used in the canine duodenum to distinguish the normal range, reserving the term 'abnormal' for an intestinal measurement greater than 6 mm in the duodenum and greater than 4.7 mm in the jejunum.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16035448/