CONCORDANCE OF ULTRASONOGRAPHIC AND PHYSICAL FINDINGS IN CATTLE WITH AN UMBILICAL MASS OR SUSPECTED TO HAVE INFECTION OF THE UMBILICAL-CORDREMNANTS - 32 CASES (1987-1989)

Medical records of 32 cattle treated for umbilical abnormalities that had undergone ultrasonographic examination of the umbilicus followed b y umbilical resection or postmortem examination were reviewed. Thirty of the cattle were between 6 and 240 days (mean, 73 days); the remaini ng 2 cattle were a 3-year-old bull and a 5-year-cow. Thirty (94%) anim als had external evidence of infection associated with the umbilicus. Two calves did not have external signs of infection; 1 had an abscess of the urachus and the other was found to be normal. Two-dimensional r eal-time ultrasonography was used to identify abnormal umbilical cord remnants. Ultrasonographic results were most reliable for the urachus, and the urachus was the most commonly affected internal umbilical cor d remnant. Statistical agreement between ultrasonographic and physical (surgical or postmortem) findings was good to excellent for all umbil ical structures. Intra-abdominal adhesions were found at surgery in 47 % of animals with umbilical abnormalities; however, adhesions were not detected ultrasonographically.