Ultrasonographic appearance of canine gastric polyps

Benign gastric polyps are uncommon in dogs and most are discovered incidentally. Polyps protruding into the pyloric antrum can cause gastric outflow obstruction. Clinical and ultrasonographic findings in seven dogs with histologically confirmed benign mucosal gastric polyps were reviewed. Sonographic findings such as shape, size, echogenicity, location, evidence of gastric wall thickening, wall layering, and size of regional lymph nodes were recorded. Five sessile and two pedunculated masses of different sizes (range 7-60 mm) and echogenicities were found. They primarily arose from the mucosal layer and protruded into the gastric lumen. Only one dog had a large inhomogeneous mass with a poorly visualized gastric wall layering. The polyps were all single, and were located in the pyloric antrum in six out of seven dogs. Although the ultrasonographic appearance allowed a presumptive diagnosis of mucosal gastric polyp, the final diagnosis was determined from histopathologic examination.