Clinical significance of ultrasonographic assessment for small intestinal layer in cats

Abstract

Inflammatory bowel disease and alimentary lymphoma are common gastrointestinal disorder in cats. More recently, ultrasonographic features associated with feline alimentary lymphoma has been recognized as a diffuse thickening of muscular layer of small intestine. We investigated correlation between thickening of muscular layer of small intestine and such disease. We found a significantly increased thickness of the muscular layer of small intestine in cats with lymphoma or IBD compared with healthy cats. When a muscularis to submucosa ratio > 1 and regional lymphadenopathy were found during ultrasonography on cats with gastrointestinal signs, full-thickness biopsy could be recommended to make sure presence confirmation of inflammatory bowel disease or alimentary lymphoma. ? 2019, Korean Society of Veterinary Clinics. All rights reserved.