ULTRASONOGRAPHIC FINDINGS IN CANINE GASTRIC NEOPLASIA IN 13 PATIENTS

The ultrasonographic findings in 13 canine patients with histopatholog ically proven gastric turners were reviewed. The echogenicity of gastr ic wall lesions was variable and independent of the type of tumor. All dogs had an increase in gastric wall thickness and in only one dog wa s the wall layering intact. Regional lymph node involvement was a comm on finding, but abnormalities within the liver were seen in only one p atient. Gastric neoplasia was observed most commonly in middle-aged an d old, medium- to large-sized dogs. Carcinoma was the most common tumo r found. In this study, with a limited number of animals and limited t umor types, it appeared that thickening of the gastric wall, accompani ed by loss of gastric wall layering and enlargement of regional lymph nodes were ultrasonographic signs likely to be found with gastric neop lasia. In this limited study the histologic type of gastric tumor coul d not be predicted on the basis of the ultrasound examination.