B-mode and Doppler ultrasound imaging of the spleen with canine splenic torsion: A retrospective evaluation

The ultrasonographic appearance of splenic torsion has been described; the splenic parenchyma can be normal, hypoechoic or anechoic with interspersed linear echoes (coarse/"lacy" appearance), The ultrasonographic parenchymal appearance of 15 dogs in this report with splenic torsion varied: mottled hypoechoic regions (n = 2), diffusely hypoechoic (n = 11) and normal (n = 2), Because splenic torsion causes vascular congestion due to splenic vein compression and eventual thrombosis, visible splenic vein intraluminal echogenicities compatible with thrombi were seen in 13 dogs using B-mode. Using spectral Doppler and color Doppler imaging of the splenic veins, no measurable flow velocities were detected in any of the 15 dogs. The varied B-mode ultrasonographic appearance of the splenic parenchyma with splenic torsion necessitates B-mode evaluation of the splenic veins for intraluminal echoes and spectral or color Doppler evaluation for absent velocity flow.