Small Animal Radiology and Ultrasound: A Diagnostic Atlas and Text

Chapter Three The Abd omen 415
A
B
Fig. 3-211 Transverse (A and B) and
longitudinal (C and D) sonograms
of the urinary bladder of a 5-yearold
female Rottweiler with a history
of pyrexia and anorexia of 10 days
duration. There is marked thickening
of the bladder wall. The entire
bladder was involved. This is indicative
of an inflammatory or infiltrative
lesion of the bladder. Diagnosis:
Lymphoma.
C
A
D
B
Fig. 3-212 Longitudinal (A, B, and
D) and transverse (C) sonograms of
the urinary bladder of an 8-year-old
spayed female Australian Shepherd
with a history of autoimmune
hemolytic anemia, which had been
treated with cyclophosphamide for 3
months. The bladder wall is thickened
and the contour is irregular.
This is indicative of chronic cystitis.
Diagnosis: Cyclophosphamide
cystitis.
C
D
Intraluminal objects, such as crystals, cells, calculi, blood clots, and air bubbles, may be
observed during the ultrasonographic examination. 717 Crystalline material, cells, air bubbles,
and fat globules can be observed floating within the usually anechoic urine. Agitation
of the bladder will increase the movement of these structures. Air bubbles may produce
reverberation artifacts, or comet tails, that help to distinguish them from other floating
objects. They eventually will float to the top of the urinary bladder. A large amount of air