CORRELATIONS BETWEEN ULTRASONOGRAPHIC FINDINGS AND SPECIFIC HEPATIC DISEASES IN CATS - 72 CASES (1985-1997)

Objective-To identify correlations between ultrasonographic findings a nd specific hepatic diseases in cats. Design-Retrospective study. Samp le Population-Medical records of 72 cats with a histopathologic diagno sis of hepatic disease and diagnostic-quality abdominal ultrasonograms between 1985 and 1997. Procedure-Abdominal ultrasonographic findings in 72 cats with histologically confirmed hepatic disease (hepatic lipi dosis excluded) were reviewed. Rather than attempt to combine individu al ultrasonographic findings with specific hepatic diseases, 2 classif ication trees were created as models to correlate certain groups of ab normalities with specific hepatic diseases or with malignant and benig n lesions of the liver. Sensitivity and specificity of classification trees were calculated. Results-Use of a classification tree resulted i n correct classification of malignant versus benign hepatic lesions in 88.9% of cats that had hepatic disease (sensitivity, 90.7%; specifici ty, 86.1%). Use of a classification tree to distinguish individual typ es of hepatic diseases resulted in mostly accurate classification of h epatic lymphosarcoma (sensitivity, 70.5%; specificity, 98.2%), cholang itis-cholangiohepatitis syndrome (sensitivity, 87%; specificity, 90%), and benign lesions of the liver (sensitivity, 84.6%; specificity, 86. 4%). Criteria that helped most in differentiating among various hepati c diseases were abnormalities within other organs (spleen, lymph nodes ) and appearance of the hepatic portal system. A correlation was not f ound between focal or multifocal appearance of hepatic lesions and spe cific hepatic diseases. Clinical Implications-Use of classification tr ees to distinguish among specific hepatic diseases or between malignan t and benign hepatic lesions provides potentially useful algorithms fo r ultrasonographic evaluation of cats with hepatic disease.