Rabbits with liver lobe torsion commonly exhibit gastric dilation, a rounded right hepatic silhouette, and peritoneal...

To describe and quantify selected radiographic findings of rabbits diagnosed with liver lobe torsion (LLT).

The study included 50 rabbits with an antemortem diagnosis of LLT with radiographs made within 72 hours of diagnosis via ultrasound. Medical records from 2010 to 2020 from 4 institutions were reviewed. A board-certified radiologist reviewed the radiographs. Radiographic evaluation of gastric size was assessed on the right lateral view (caudal extent of the stomach relative to the lumbar vertebral column, gastric height and width, and vertebral stomach score), as well as gastric content patterns and radiographic signs of intestinal dilation and content, hepatic rounding, and loss of serosal detail. Loss of abdominal serosal detail was compared to the presence of peritoneal fluid on ultrasound.

35 of 50 rabbits (70%) had a gastric height and gastric width sum height greater than or equal to the length from the L1 cranial endplate to the coxofemoral joint. The median vertebral stomach score was 8.8. The gastric content was mostly ingesta. A rounded margin along the right hepatic silhouette in the ventrodorsal view was identified in 30 of 50 rabbits (60%). Peritoneal fluid was correctly identified radiographically in 37 studies (74%), not appreciated but present in 7 (14%), correctly identified as not present in 4 (8%), and incorrectly identified in 2 (4%).

Radiographic findings suggested that gastric dilation with ingesta, a rounded right hepatic silhouette, and peritoneal fluid, although not always present, are common in rabbits with LLT.

Identification of these findings should prompt further diagnostic imaging.