Liver Flashcards
where is the normal liver?
under costal arch
between stomach and diaphragm
what is the echogenicity of the liver in dogs?
hypoechoic to spleen
iso- or hyperechoic to kidney
what is the echogenicity of the falciform ligament compared to the liver in a cat?
iso- or hyperechoic to liver
what can indicate an enlarged liver on radiographs?
rounded margins
protruding beyond costal arch
what is the normal size of the common bile duct?
1-3mm in dogs
up to 4mm in cats
what are the walls of the portal veins like?
always hyperechoic
what does heptic cirrhosis look like?
small
irregular contour/lobular
hyperechoic
hypoechoic nodules
what are hepatic cysts like?
single or multiple
thin-walled or no visible wall
anechoic
posterior enhancement
can be very large
what can hepatic cysts be associated with?
polycystic renal disease
pancreatic cysts
what does hepatocellular carcinoma look like?
single or multifocal hyperechoic masses
what is cholecystolithiasis?
calculi in the gall bladder and biliary tree
what can cause gall bladder wall edema?
anaphylaxis
portal hypertension
hypoalbuminemia
biliary obstruction
inflammation
what are the patterns of gall bladder mucocele?
stellate
kiwi-fruit
what should you look at for the liver?
gallbladder
veins
diaphragm
falciform ligament
where is the gallbladder?
between quadrate and right medial lobes in dog
in fissure of right medial lobe in cat
what is the gallbladder wall like?
very thin: <1mm
what are hepatic veins like?
wall not visible or hyperechoic if ultrasound beam is perpendicular
what are the possible diffuse changes of the liver?
hyperechoic
hypoechoic
mixed echogenicity
what common things can cause a hypoechoic liver?
passive congestion
acute hepatitis
leptospirosis
lymphoma: can also be hyperechoic and mixed
what common things can cause mixed echogenicity in the liver?
steroid hepatopathy + regenerative nodules
if no nodules: hyperechoic
how can you tell a liver is diffusely hypoechoic?
prominent portal vein walls
liver of normal size or enlarged
what can cause focal liver parenchyma changes?
nodular hyperplasia
cyst
abscess
hematoma
granuloma
neoplasia
what is nodular hyperplasia like on ultrasound?
hypoechoic
target lesions
hyperechoic
what is cystadenoma like?
benign, epithelial
hyperechoic mass with numerous variable size cysts
common in older cats
what do hepatoma and adenoma look like?
coarse echotexture nearly isoechoic to normal liver
what is lymphoma like?
diffuse, can be hypoechoic or hyperechoic
multifocal, hypoechoic
are target lesions more likely to be benign or malignant?
malignant, especially if multiple (81%)
what would indicate an extrahepatic biliary obstruction?
common bile duct >5mm
intrahepatic biliary tree distention
gallbladder distention is not a reliable sign
what make up cholecystolithiasis?
cholesterol
bilirubin
calcium
magnesium
oxalates
what is cholecystitis on ultrasound?
thickened gallbladder wall > 1mm
which animals commonly get gallbladder mucoceles?
small breeds
older dogs
cocker spaniels
shelties
what does a ruptured gallbladder mucocele look like on ultrasound?
focal steatitis- bright fat
focal free fluid
thickened, ill-defined gallbladder wall
kiwi-fruit pattern floating in abdomen
