ULTRASONOGRAPHY OF CANINE GASTRIC EPITHELIAL NEOPLASIA

Signalment, clinical and ultrasonographic findings from 16 dogs with h istologically confirmed gastric epithelial neoplasia were reviewed. Th e most common clinical findings were vomiting, anorexia and weight los s. Hematemesis and melena were uncommon findings, Ten (10/16) dogs wer e female and there were four Chows. The most common ultrasonographic f indings mere transmural thickening of the gastric wall associated with altered mall layering. A pearly echogenic lining often was noted on t he innermost and/or the outermost portions of the gastric wall, separa ted by a more echogenic central zone, The distribution of these change s was variable, This ultrasonographic feature, called pseudolayering, was present in 14 dogs. Ii. was believed to most likely correlate to t he unevenly layered tumor distribution noted histopathologically. The maximum wall thickening ranged from 1 cm to 2.7 cm, Regional lymphaden opathy was identified ultrasonographically in 15 dogs, Ultrasound-guid ed fine-needle aspiration biopsy or automated microcore biopsy, endosc opic biopsy, surgical biopsy or necropsy resulted in the diagnosis of carcinoma in 15 dogs and of carcinoid tumor hi one dog. The results of this study suggested that ultrasonography was a useful tool for the d etection and diagnosis of canine gastric epithelial neoplasia. Further more, ultrasonography carl assist in obtaining diagnostic samples and in clinical staging of the tumor.