A comparative study of two-dimensional and three-dimensional ultrasonography in evaluation of gastric affections in dogs

Abstract

Aim: The objective of the study was to obtain and compare the two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) ultrasonographic images of pathological conditions of the stomach in dogs in clinical cases.

Materials and methods: In our study, 12 clinical conditions of the stomach were recorded using ultrasonography. The ultrasound machine used for this study was 3D ultrasound machine (Nemio-XG: Toshiba, Japan) having four-dimensional volumetric transducer.

Results: Present study was done to compare 2D and 3D ultrasonographic images in different gastric affections in dogs. In case of uremic gastropathy due to inflammatory response, the wall of the stomach was 0.6 cm thick and hyperechoic and gastric folds were also hyperechoic indicative of gastritis. In second, third, and fourth case of gastritis the wall of the stomach was 0.7, 0.6, and 0.55 cm, respectively thick and hyperechoic. In fifth and sixth case of gastritis, inflammatory response due to ingestion of polythene and sand led to gastritis and ultrasonographically, the wall of the stomach was 0.6 cm and 0.7 cm thick, respectively, and hyperechoic. In case of gastric ulcer, ultrasonographically, there was a disruption of gastric mucosal layer. In cases of gastric dilatation, anechoic content indicating fluid was seen in stomach area and due to dilatation boundary of the stomach was not clear and the increase in the lumen of the stomach was observed. In case of foreign body, ultrasonographically the wall of the stomach was 0.55 cm thick and hyperechoic. In the middle of the stomach, multiple hyperechoic shadows of the foreign bodies i.e. leather and bunch of straw of grass were observed. In case of pyloric stenosis ultrasonographically, anechoic lumen of the pylorus surrounded by 0.5 cm hypoechoic thickened muscle. In some cases, 3D ultrasonography was not diagnostic i.e. gastric foreign bodies and gastric dilatation. These conditions were better visualized on the 2D sonogram.

Conclusion: The appearance of clinical conditions of the stomach such as gastritis and pyloric stenosis were more distinct on 3D ultrasonogram than 2D ultrasonogram. The 3D ultrasonography was not diagnostic in cases of gastric foreign bodies and gastric dilatation.

Keywords: dogs; gastric dilatation; gastric foreign bodies; gastric ulcer; gastritis; three-dimensional ultrasonogram.

Figure-1

(a) Sonogram of stomach in first case of gastritis thickening of gastric wall (blue arrow). Gastric folds are hyperechoic (red arrow in two-dimensional [2D] sonogram and black arrow in three-dimensional [3D] sonogram), (b) sonogram of stomach in second case of gastritis thickening of gastric wall (red arrow in 2D sonogram and black arrow in 3D sonogram), (c) sonogram of stomach in third case of gastritis thickening of gastric wall (black arrow), (d) sonogram of stomach fourth case of gastritis thickening of gastric wall (red arrow in 2D sonogram), (e) sonogram of stomach in fifth case of gastritis thickening of gastric wall (white arrow in 2D sonogram). Gastric fold are hyperechoic (red arrow in 2D sonogram and green arrow in 3D sonogram), (f) sonogram of stomach in sixth case of gastritis thickening of gastric wall (green arrow).

Figure-2

(a) Two-dimensional (2D) sonogram in case of gastric ulcer, thickening of gastric wall (black arrow) and disruption of mucosal layer is hyperechoic (red arrow), (b) gastric lesion on mucosa of stomach as gastric ulcer, (c) 2D sonogram in first case of gastric dilatation, there is anechoic fluid (blue arrow) in lumen of stomach due to whick boundaries are not clear, (d) 2D sonogram in second case of gastric dilatation the solid food in lumen of stomach is hyperechoic (red arrow) and there is dilatation of stomach due to which boundaries of stomach is not clear, (e) 2D sonogram in third case of gastric dilatation, there is shadow of full sized stomach due to dilatation with the solid food in lumen of stomach is hyperechoic (red arrow) and thickening of gastric wall as hyperechoic shadow (blue arrow), (f) 2D sonogram of gastric foreign bodies, there is hyperechoic shadow of bunch of straw (red arrow) and leather piece (green arrow) in lumen of stomach.

Figure-3

(a) Two-dimensional sonogram of pyloric stenosis, there is hyperechoic thickening of muscle of pyloric antrum (red arrow), (b) three-dimensional sonogram of pylori stenosis, there is hyperechoic thickening of muscle of pylori antrum (black arrow).