Introduction
Uses
- Investigation of:
- Collapse
. - Hypoglycemia .
- Vomiting .
- Abdominal pain.
- Abdominal mass.
- Collapse
- Low cost.
- Non-invasive.
- Straightforward.
- Short time requirement.
- Rarely requires sedation.
- No known biological risk.
- Allows ultrasound-guided:
- Fine needle aspirate
- Biopsy .
- Fine needle aspirate
Disadvantages
- May require patient's coat to be clipped.
- Normal sonographic appearance does not exclude disease.
- Gives no information on endocrine function.
- Abnormal sonographic appearance does not always indicate significant disease.
- Similar sonographic appearance with different diseases.
Potential problems
- Poor transducer-skin contact:
- Inadequate clipping.
- Insufficient coupling medium.
- Inadequate patient restraint.
- Operator inexperience.
- Excess intestinal gas.
- Inadequate equipment.
Alternatives
- Exploratory surgery for insulinomas.
- Scintigraphy for localization of insulinomas.
Sources
Publications
Refereed papers
- Recent references from PubMed.
- Morita Y, Takiguchi M, Yasuda J, Kitamura T, Syakalima M, Eom K & Hashimoto A (1998) Endoscopic ultrasonography of the pancreas in the dog. Vet Radiol Ultrasound 39 (6), 552-556 PubMed.
- Lamb C R et al(1995) Ultrasonography of pancreatic neoplasia in the dog - a retrospective review of 16 cases. Vet Rec 137 , 65-68 PubMed.
- Lamb C R et al(1989) Dilation of the pancreatic duct - an ultrasonographic finding in acute pancreatitis. JSAP 30, 410-413.
