ULTRASONIC EXAMINATION OF THE PANCREAS IN HEALTHY COWS

The purpose of this study was to describe the ultrasonographic appeara nce of the normal bovine pancreas and to establish reference values fo r healthy cattle. Ultrasonographic examinations were performed on the right side of 20 healthy cows. Ultrasonographically the body and right limb of pancreas appeared as a triangle-shaped structure associated w ith the liver, portal vein, right kidney, and duodenum. In comparison to normal liver, the pancreas appeared isoechoic or slightly more echo genic. The right lobe of the pancreas was evaluated from the right fla nk to the eleventh intercostal space, and the body of the pancreas was visualized from the twelfth to the tenth intercostal space. The left lobe of the pancreas could not be seen because of its dorsomedial loca tion. In 9 cows, the accessory pancreatic duct was located near the ri ght lobe of the pancreas and appeared as two parallel echogenic lines with a hypoechogenic area between them. The diameter of the accessory pancreatic duct varied from 6 to 8 mm. The pancreaticoduodenal vein wa s seen in 5 cows. The diameter of the pancreaticoduodenal vein varied from 3 to 4 mm. The ultrasonographic characteristics determined in thi s study may serve as a reference in the evaluation of cows with suspec ted pancreatic disease.