Ultrasonography of the parathyroid glands in dogs - an overview

The purpose of the study was to give an overview over the usefulness of ult rasonographic examination of parathyroid glands in dogs. By means of a 10 M Hz high-resolution linear transducer it was possible to visualize parathyro id glands in healthy dogs. There was a positive correlation between body we ight and size of the parathyroid glands, additionally the likelihood to det ect 4 glands increased with an increase in body weight. Dogs with chronic r enal failure had significantly larger parathyroid glands than healthy dogs and dogs with acute renal failure. In dogs with hypercalcemia of malignancy either none or parathyroids which were small in relation to body weight we re detected. In contrast visualisation of parathyroid masses in dogs with p rimary hyperparathyroidism was easy due to their increased size and anechoi c appearance. In dogs with severe azotemia the ultrasonographic examination of the parathyroid glands is helpful to differentiate between acute and ch ronic renal failure, in dogs with hypercalcemia to differentiate between hy percalcemia of malignancy and hypercalcemia due to primary hyperparathyroid ism.