Multi-phase MULTIDETECTOR-row computed tomographic features and laboratory findings in dogs with gallbladder rupture

Alessia Cordella; Giulia Gianesini; Andrea Zoia; Laura Ventura; Giovanna Bertolini

doi:10.1016/j.rvsc.2022.10.023

Multi-phase MULTIDETECTOR-row computed tomographic features and laboratory findings in dogs with gallbladder rupture

Res Vet Sci. 2022 Dec 31:153:137-143. doi: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2022.10.023. Epub 2022 Oct 30.

Authors

Alessia Cordella¹, Giulia Gianesini², Andrea Zoia², Laura Ventura³, Giovanna Bertolini⁴

Affiliations

¹ Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology Division of San Marco Veterinary Clinic and Laboratory, Veggiano (Padova), Italy.
² Internal Medicine Division of San Marco Veterinary Clinic and Laboratory, Veggiano (Padova), Italy.
³ Department of Statistical Sciences, University of Padova, Via Battisti, 241 -, 35121 Padova, (Italy).
⁴ Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology Division of San Marco Veterinary Clinic and Laboratory, Veggiano (Padova), Italy. Electronic address: bertolini@sanmarcovet.it.

PMID: 36368275
DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2022.10.023

Abstract

Gallbladder rupture is a life-treating condition in dogs. In human medicine, multidetector-row computed tomography (MDCT) is considered the best modality for the diagnosis of gallbladder rupture. The aims of the study were to describe MDCT features of gallbladder rupture in dogs and to determine the CT findings and laboratory data that differ between dogs with ruptured biliary tree and dogs with biliary disease with no rupture. For this single-center, cross-sectional study were considered for inclusion dogs presented from May 2010 to September 2020, with surgical diagnosis of gallbladder rupture or integrity, who underwent MDCT examination and with CBC and biochemistry results available for review. Forty-seven dogs with different diseases of the biliary tract were included. Seventeen dogs with confirmed gallbladder rupture and 30 dogs with intact gallbladder were included. Multiple MDCT findings showed statistical significance in distinguish dogs with gallbladder rupture: irregular contours of the gallbladder (p < 0.0001), discontinuation of the gallbladder wall (p = 0.0005), adhesions with adjacent organs (p = 0.005), heterogeneous enhancement of the gallbladder wall (p = 0.01), pericholecystic effusion (p = 0.001) and pericholecystic peritonitis (p = 0.001). The presence of three or more of these findings was highly indicative for gallbladder rupture (AUC = 0.921). In this study, MDCT proved to be useful in differentiating dogs with gallbladder rupture from dogs with biliary disease without rupture.

Keywords: Bile peritonitis; CT; Cholecystectomy; Gallbladder perforation; Mucocele.