Small Animal Radiology and Ultrasound: A Diagnostic Atlas and Text

Chapter Three The Abd omen 331
Fig. 3-98 A 6-year-old neutered
female Miniature Schnauzer had
vomiting and abdominal tenderness.
The longitudinal sonogram revealed
a markedly thickened pancreas (P)
with mixed echogenicity that is seen
adjacent to the descending duodenum
(D). Diagnosis: Pancreatitis.
A
B
Fig. 3-99 Transverse (A and D) and
longitudinal (B and C) sonograms of
the cranial abdomen of a 2-year-old
spayed female Cocker Spaniel with a
history of lethargy and cranial
abdominal pain. There is a heteroechoic
mass in the cranial abdomen
(arrows) medial to the duodenum
(small arrows). The tissue around
this mass appears hyperechoic. This
is indicative of a pancreatic tumor or
abscess. Diagnosis: Pancreatic
abscess.
C
D
On rare occasions, gas may accumulate within the bowel wall. This produces a double
line that outlines the intestine. The double line will be present on both sides of the lumen.
The outer serosal surface is usually smooth while the inner mucosal surface is more undulant.
This has been associated with necrosis of the wall caused by a loss of the normal blood
supply. 12 Mesenteric thrombosis, severe bowel wall trauma, and infiltrating neoplasms may
cause this radiographic change. Infection with a gas-producing organism may produce
emphysema of the bowel wall. This occurs most often in the colon but can occur in the
stomach or small bowel.