Radiographic and ultrasonographic evaluation of the upper urinary tract diseases in dogs: 22 cases

The objectives of the present study were to describe the complementary use of radiography and ultrasonography in the diagnosis of upper urinary tract disorders in dogs, and to compare ultrasonographic findings with the survey and contrast radiographic findings in the evaluation of canine upper urinary tract diseases. The study materials were composed of 22 dogs of various breed, age, and sex with upper urinary tract diseases. Pyelonephritis (9 cases), acute renal failure (7 cases), policystic renal disease (2 cases), bilateral hydronephrosis (one case), radiopaque nephrolith (2 cases), unilateral ectopic ureter (one case) were diagnosed radiographically and ultrasonographically. The results of the present study indicate that ultrasonography was more sensitive than radiography in diagnosis of upper urinary diseases but was incapable in qualitative evaluation of renal functions and in examination of the ureters. Survey radiographs had little value in the diagnosis of pyelonephritis, disorders of renal pelvis, ureters except for the identification of radiopaque nephrolith. It was determined that EU was valuable for determination of the ectopic ureter, hydronephrosis, and evaluation of renal function.