Uncovering the Depths of the Utility of Ultrasound

Course overview

This 50-minute advanced lecture examines the versatility of abdominal ultrasound in canine and feline patients and emphasizes conditions that are commonly overlooked or underutilized indications for ultrasonography. The session reviews ultrasound evaluation of major abdominal organs including the urinary bladder, lymph nodes, reproductive tract, kidneys, adrenal glands, spleen, liver, stomach, pancreas, small intestine, and abdominal vasculature. Clinical examples will highlight how ultrasound can identify conditions such as cryptorchidism, paraprostatic cysts, congenital reproductive anomalies, obstructive and ectopic ureters, splenic torsion, unusual splenic presentations, peritoneopericardial diaphragmatic hernia (PPDH), hepatic congestion, gallbladder disease, free abdominal gas, and gastrointestinal pathology including intussusceptions and foreign bodies. Participants will also learn how subtle ultrasonographic clues, including vascular changes, organ positioning, and ultrasound artifacts, can indicate pathology even when obvious structural abnormalities are not present. Additional discussion will focus on interpretation of abdominal lymph nodes and practical techniques for improving diagnostic sampling during ultrasound-guided procedures. The goal is to broaden the differential diagnoses and demonstrate how ultrasound can serve as a primary diagnostic modality for a wider range of disease processes in small animal patients.