The aim of the study was to evaluate the usefulness of elastography in the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant tumours of the mammary gland in dogs. The study was performed to 12 female dogs of different breeds aged 5-12 years in which tumoral lesions of the mammary gland were found in the clinical examination. In all the animals elastographic examination of the lesions was carried out and then the fine-needle aspiration biopsy was performed to determine the nature and degree of malignancy of the lesions. The examinations proved that benign neoplasms of the mammary gland showed low stiffness (average 22.42 kPa, range 19 to 42.4 kPa), whereas malignant neoplasms were characterized by high stiffness (average 235.44 kPa, range 171 to 300 kPa). On the basis of the results obtained we conclude that the elastography of proliferative lesions of the mammary gland is a useful diagnostic method for distinguishing benign neoplastic lesions from malignant neoplasms.

There are multiple dynamic changes associated with the metabolism of the extracellular matrix (ECM) which occur in the course of liver fibrosis. Therefore, the evaluation of parameters reflecting the deposition of ECM, the activity of myofibroblasts and the synthesis and degradation of collagen may aid in the diagnosis of liver fibrosis. Hyaluronic acid is considered to be a marker of ECM deposition. It is a glycosaminoglycan synthesized by hepatic stellate cells and degraded by hepatic sinusoidal endothelial cells. The aim of this study was to evaluate the concentration of hyaluronic acid in dogs with different degrees of liver fibrosis. The study was carried out on 29 dogs with liver disease. A core needle biopsy of the liver was performed in order to assess the degree of hepatic inflammation. Then, hyaluronic acid serum concentrations were measured. The dogs were divided into five groups based on the histopathological examination and the evaluation of the degree of hepatic fibrosis. The study showed that serum hyaluronic acid concentrations were low in patients with first stage liver fibrosis and in controls, while they were twice as high as control values in the group of dogs with second stage liver fibrosis. These concentrations were three-fold greater than control values in patients with third stage liver fibrosis, and seven-fold greater in patients with liver cirrhosis. Based on the results, it was concluded that serum hyaluronic acid is a useful marker of liver fibrosis and may aid in determining the degree of its advancement.

The aim of this study was to identify the species and determine the prevalence of gastric Helicobacter in the saliva of dogs with gastritis. The study was carried out on 30 dogs of different breeds, genders and ages, which were diagnosed with gastritis. The nested-PCR method was used to detect Helicobacter spp. in saliva. Helicobacter bacteria were found in the saliva samples of 23 (76.6%) dogs. Helicobacter heilmannii was the most commonly detected species of gastric Helicobacter spp. in canine saliva, and was found in 22 (73.3%) cases. The results indicate that gastric Helicobacter spp. occurs relatively frequently in dogs with gastritis. Moreover, the saliva of dogs with gastritis may be a source of Helicobacter spp. infection for humans and other animals. However, further studies are needed to confirm this finding as the PCR method does not distinguish active from inactive infections.

Magnetic resonance imaging using gadoxetic acid, a hepatocyte-specific contrast agent, is one of the most useful MRI techniques used to diagnose liver tumours in humans. During the hepato-biliary phase, there is uptake of gadoxetic acid by normal hepatocytes, leading to hepatic parenchymal enhancement. This feature is used in human medicine to diagnose hepatic parenchymal metastatic disease, to differentiate primary liver tumours, to diagnose liver cirrhosis and focal nodular hyperplasia. This study presents the preliminary results of magnetic resonance imaging of focal lesions localised in the liver parenchyma in dogs following the administration of gadoxetic acid. The lesion enhancement ratio (ERlesion) in the tumour metastasis was 0.05; the liver enhancement ratio (ERliver) – 0.49 and the post-contrast lesion-to-liver contrast ratio (CR) was 0.17. In dogs with hepatocellular hyperplasia, these values were 0.54; 0.51; and 1.18, respectively. In two dogs with a hepatic adenoma, the ERlesion was 0.26 and 0.17, respectively; the ERliver was 0.47 and 0.47, respectively and the CR was 0.33 and 0.31, respectively. In the dog with a neuroendocrine tumour, the ERlesion was 0.03; the ERliver amounted to 0.58 and the CR was 0.35. In the case of a hepatocellular carcinoma, these coefficients were 0.2, 0.6 and 0.3, respectively. Based on the results, it may be assumed that the MR images of the proliferative hepatic parenchymal lesions in dogs using gadoxetic acid are similar to those obtained in humans. This suggests that the contrast enhancement patterns used in human medicine may be useful in differentiating hepatic parenchymal lesions in dogs.

Shear wave elastography (SWE) can be useful to discriminate between malignant and benign mammary tumors. In dogs with elevated progesterone levels compared to the baseline and fast-growing tumors, treatment with the use of aglepristone allows for tumor size reduction, which facilitates surgery. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of the preoperative treatment of benign mammary tumors (BMTs), performed with the use of aglepristone, on the density of the tumor tissue measured by SWE. Twelve female dogs with diagnosed BMTs and increased levels of progesterone were treated with aglepristone (Alizine, Virbac, France) at 10 mg/kg s.c. (Subcutaneous injection). twice, with a 24 h interval. The density of the tumor was evaluated by SWE before and after the treatment. The type of tumor was evaluated by fine needle aspiration cytology before treatment, and a histopathological examination was made after surgical removal, performed after the aglepristone treatment. In all the cases, a significant reduction in the mammary tumor’s size was observed following treatment, with no influence on the density of the tumor’s tissue measured by SWE. Similar studies on malignant mammary tumors are warranted to verify if in these cases, density will also be a constant parameter that is not dependent on the tumor size.