Ultrasonographig Aspects of Mammary Tumours in Bitches

Some imaging aspects of mammary tumours in bitch were investigated in order to individualize them from other pathologies and among themselves. 10 bitches of different breeds and ages that were presented to the Clinic of Animal Reproduction for suspicion of mammary tumours were subjected to a complete clinical examination and an imaging investigation using ultrasound and colour Doppler. Subsequently, tissue samples were collected and sent for histological diagnosis. In total there were investigated 18 tumours with an average of 1.8 tumours/animal; 94.4 % of tumours were malignant, and 5.6 % were benign. Of the malignant tumours, 82.36 % had irregular margins, 88.24 % were heterogeneous and 17.65 % showed areas of necrosis. In 11.76 % of cases there were imaging artefacts. Increased blood ϐlow was observed around the margins of the tumour in 82.36 % of examined tumours using colour Doppler. The benign tumour had oval margins, mild granulation and one central blood vessel. Using ultrasound and colour Doppler examination, mammary tumours can be differentiated from other mammary pathologies and one can even determine, with a high level of accuracy, if the tumour is malignant or benign