Small Animal Radiology and Ultrasound: A Diagnostic Atlas and Text

Chapter Three The Abd omen 393
A
B
Fig. 3-177 Transverse (A and B)
and longitudinal (C and D) sonograms
of the left kidney of an 8-yearold
castrated male cat with a history
of chronic abdominal distention.
The kidney is small, hyperechoic,
and surrounded by anechoic fluid.
This fluid is limited to the area surrounding
the kidney and is not present
within the peritoneal cavity.
These findings are indicative of
chronic renal disease with perirenal
fluid. Diagnosis: Chronic renal disease
with subcapsular renal cyst.
C
D
Fig. 3-178 A 14-year-old neutered
male domestic short-haired cat was
in renal failure. A longitudinal sonogram
of the right kidney revealed
moderate to severe dilation of the
renal pelvis (RP). The renal
parenchyma (K) reveals no evidence
of corticomedullary distinction and
has coarse architecture. There is fluid
in the subcapsular space (SCF). The
left kidney was very small with poor
internal architecture. Diagnosis:
Hydronephrosis, chronic renal disease,
and subcapsular fluid accumulation.
Excretory Urography
Normal Findings. Excretory urography is helpful in defining ureteral lesions and is
superior to ultrasonography in this regard. In the normal EU, the ureters appear as narrow,
peristaltic tubes extending from the renal pelvis to the trigone region of the bladder. 23,26
The ureters exit the renal pelvis medially and curl caudally after a very short distance. It is
unusual to see the entire length of the ureter on any one excretory urographic film. This is
because ureteral peristalsis propels the urine to the bladder. The width of the ureter should
vary due to ureteral peristalsis. As the ureters approach the bladder, they often extend
slightly caudal to their bladder entrance sites and curve back cranially just before entering
the trigone.