Single extrahepatic portosystemic shunt in 3 dogs: CT findings and progress

Abstract

Two Maltese (2-year-old, intact female and 4-month-old, intact female) and a Pekingese (10-year-old, intact male) dogs were referred due to vomiting, anorexia, head-pressing and hypersalivation. Physical examinations, complete blood count, serum chemical analysis, radiography, ultrasonography and computed tomography (CT) were evaluated. Laboratory findings in these dogs included high hepatic enzyme, serum bile acid and ammonia concentration. Microhepatia was found on abdominal radiographs in two dogs. The existence of portosystemic shunt was presented in abdominal ultrasonography. The shunt vessel was identified in all dogs by CT imaging. Based on three-dimensional CT reconstruction, the origin and termination of each shunt vessel were defined certainly. In consequence, each dog was diagnosed single extrahepatic portosystemic shunt. After diagnosis, surgical treatment was performed in all dogs. This case report describes clinical finding, imaging characteristics, and three-dimensional CT imaging of single extrahepatic portosystemic shunt cases.