Evaluation of ultrasonographic echotexture of adrenal glands: A study in eighteen apparently healthy dogs

Abstract

An ultrasonographic study was undertaken to evaluate the echotexture of adrenal glands in 18 apparently healthy dogs. The animals were divided into three age groups namely, Group I (from 01 month to 09 month), Group II (from 09 month to 6 years) and Group III (above 6 years). Ultrasonographic examination was done in lateral recumbency in all the dogs without using any sedative or anaesthetic agent. Ultrasonographic images of adrenal glands were recorded only in sagittal plane because adrenal glands could not be differentiated from the surrounding structures in transverse plane. The adrenal gland appeared as a peanut shaped (left) and almost oval shaped (right) hypoechoic area, and was homogenous in all the groups. The outline of the adrenal gland was clear. The difference in the echotexture of cortex and medulla were not discernible. The cranial and caudal poles of the left adrenal were easily discernible. The left adrenal gland was the first structure to appear in ultrasonogram beneath the skin, aorta appeared as an anechoic pulsating oblong structure below the left adrenal gland. The right adrenal gland appeared either dorsal to the caudal vena cava or at the level of caudal vena cava. Ultrasonography of adrenal glands in dogs does not require anaesthesia. Subcostal approach is the best approach to scan left and right adrenal glands. The scanning of adrenal glands can be easily done using a 7.5 MHz Linear transducer. The echotexture of the adrenal glands may assist in the diagnosis of pathologies of the adrenals or other organs.