Ultrasonographic Findings of Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency in Dogs
Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) is a syndrome characterized by insufficient synthesis of pancreatic enzymes leading to clinical symptoms of malabsorption and maldigestion. There are no studies about ultrasonographic appearance of the pancreas with EPI in dogs. The purpose of this retrospecti...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-08-01
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| Series: | Veterinary Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/9/8/407 |
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| author | Tina Pelligra Caterina Puccinelli Veronica Marchetti Simonetta Citi |
| author_facet | Tina Pelligra Caterina Puccinelli Veronica Marchetti Simonetta Citi |
| author_sort | Tina Pelligra |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) is a syndrome characterized by insufficient synthesis of pancreatic enzymes leading to clinical symptoms of malabsorption and maldigestion. There are no studies about ultrasonographic appearance of the pancreas with EPI in dogs. The purpose of this retrospective study was to describe ultrasound features of the pancreas during EPI in this species. Dogs with history and clinical signs of maldigestion, serum canine trypsin-like immunoreactivity (cTLI) values <5 µg/L, and abdominal ultrasound exam were included in the study. Size, shape, margin, echogenicity, echostructure, and pancreatic duct appearance of the right pancreatic lobe were valued. Additional sonographic intestinal findings were recorded. Thirty-four dogs were included. The mean pancreatic thickness in our population was significantly lower than the mean reference values of healthy dogs. In 68% of dogs, the pancreas had a normal ultrasound appearance. Ultrasonographic intestinal abnormal findings were identified in 85% of dogs and were suggestive of inflammatory bowel disease. Despite the fact that EPI is a functional diagnosis, ultrasound evaluation should be considered among the useful tests. The finding of a normal but thinned pancreas associated with sonographic intestinal signs of inflammatory bowel disease in dogs with typical history and supportive clinical signs could suggest a diagnosis of EPI. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T12:22:55Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-877c103399b441ee9ced423f5d763e2b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2306-7381 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T12:22:55Z |
| publishDate | 2022-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Veterinary Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-877c103399b441ee9ced423f5d763e2b2023-11-30T22:38:03ZengMDPI AGVeterinary Sciences2306-73812022-08-019840710.3390/vetsci9080407Ultrasonographic Findings of Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency in DogsTina Pelligra0Caterina Puccinelli1Veronica Marchetti2Simonetta Citi3Affiliation Veterinary Teaching Hospital Mario Modenato, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, Via Livornese Lato Monte, 56121 Pisa, ItalyAffiliation Veterinary Teaching Hospital Mario Modenato, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, Via Livornese Lato Monte, 56121 Pisa, ItalyAffiliation Veterinary Teaching Hospital Mario Modenato, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, Via Livornese Lato Monte, 56121 Pisa, ItalyAffiliation Veterinary Teaching Hospital Mario Modenato, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, Via Livornese Lato Monte, 56121 Pisa, ItalyExocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) is a syndrome characterized by insufficient synthesis of pancreatic enzymes leading to clinical symptoms of malabsorption and maldigestion. There are no studies about ultrasonographic appearance of the pancreas with EPI in dogs. The purpose of this retrospective study was to describe ultrasound features of the pancreas during EPI in this species. Dogs with history and clinical signs of maldigestion, serum canine trypsin-like immunoreactivity (cTLI) values <5 µg/L, and abdominal ultrasound exam were included in the study. Size, shape, margin, echogenicity, echostructure, and pancreatic duct appearance of the right pancreatic lobe were valued. Additional sonographic intestinal findings were recorded. Thirty-four dogs were included. The mean pancreatic thickness in our population was significantly lower than the mean reference values of healthy dogs. In 68% of dogs, the pancreas had a normal ultrasound appearance. Ultrasonographic intestinal abnormal findings were identified in 85% of dogs and were suggestive of inflammatory bowel disease. Despite the fact that EPI is a functional diagnosis, ultrasound evaluation should be considered among the useful tests. The finding of a normal but thinned pancreas associated with sonographic intestinal signs of inflammatory bowel disease in dogs with typical history and supportive clinical signs could suggest a diagnosis of EPI.https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/9/8/407exocrine pancreatic insufficiencyabdominal ultrasoundpancreatic acinar atrophychronic pancreatitisdog |
| spellingShingle | Tina Pelligra Caterina Puccinelli Veronica Marchetti Simonetta Citi Ultrasonographic Findings of Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency in Dogs Veterinary Sciences exocrine pancreatic insufficiency abdominal ultrasound pancreatic acinar atrophy chronic pancreatitis dog |
| title | Ultrasonographic Findings of Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency in Dogs |
| title_full | Ultrasonographic Findings of Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency in Dogs |
| title_fullStr | Ultrasonographic Findings of Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency in Dogs |
| title_full_unstemmed | Ultrasonographic Findings of Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency in Dogs |
| title_short | Ultrasonographic Findings of Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency in Dogs |
| title_sort | ultrasonographic findings of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency in dogs |
| topic | exocrine pancreatic insufficiency abdominal ultrasound pancreatic acinar atrophy chronic pancreatitis dog |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/9/8/407 |
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