ULTRASOUND FINDINGS IN DOGS WITH SPLENIC HEMANGIOSARCOMA

Abstract

There were 21 ultrasonographic studies conducted on separate dogs with the average age being 9.6±0.63 years with pathohistologically proven hemangiosarcoma of the spleen. The tumor lesions were with different sizes ranging from 0.5 to upwards of 7cm with irregular shape, uneven outlines and poor differentiation from the surrounding tissue. In the cases of bigger neoplastic formations heteroechogenity and internal cavities were easy to see and were caused by tissue breaking apart. In 23.8% of dogs with spleen hemangiosarcoma we found hemorrhagic peritoneal effusion. The combination of the tumor in the spleen with the presence of hemorrhagic peritoneal effusion is a strong indicator of future hemangiosarcoma.