Ultrasonographic measurement of gallbladder wall thickness in fasted dogs
Ultrasound-determined gallbladder wall thickness is widely used to aid in the diagnosis of gallbladder disease, but no reference values supported by published measurement data are available in dogs. The aim of this cross-sectional observational study was to establish normal thickness of the gallbladder wall in dogs.
A standard sequence of gallbladder wall images was recorded for later review. Inclusion criteria were normal ultrasonographic hepatobiliary, pancreatic, and small intestinal findings. Exclusion was determined by 2 European College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ECVIM)-certified veterinary internists blinded to gallbladder wall thickness data. Dogs were excluded if they had inadequate medical records, a previous history of hepatobiliary, gastrointestinal, or pancreatic disease likely to impact the biliary system (eg, chronic vomiting, nausea, jaundice, diarrhea), unexplained increases in liver enzyme activities, hypoalbuminemia, or ascites. Gallbladder wall thickness was determined by 2 European College of Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging (ECVDI)-certified veterinary radiologists working together to generate a consensus for each dog. The final output was the maximum normal wall thickness for this population of dogs.
Fifty-three fasted (8 hours) <40 kg dogs presented to a referral hospital and required abdominal ultrasound examination for reasons unrelated to primary hepatobiliary disease were enrolled. The upper limit for gallbladder wall thickness in dogs was 1.30 mm (90% confidence interval, 1.19-1.41).
In conclusion, normal gallbladder wall thickness in dogs was lower than previously reported. Additional studies are required to determine potential effects of body weight and the optimal cut-off to distinguish between healthy and diseased gallbladders.
“Ultrasonographic measurement of gallbladder wall thickness in fasted dogs without signs of hepatobiliary disease”. Carlos Martinez, et al. J Vet Intern Med. 2023 Sep-Oct;37(5):1766-1771. doi: 10.1111/jvim.16810.
Source: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/jvim.16810
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