Ultrasonographic study of feline lower urinary tract diseases: 32 cases

The objective of the study was to describe the ultrasonographic findings of urinary bladder urolithiasis and to determine the diagnostic value of the technique in feline lower urinary tract diseases (LUTD). Physical examination of the urinary system and routine clinicopathological analysis of the blood and urine were performed on 32 cats presented with clinical symptoms of LUTD. Cystosonography was done on all of the cats, while plain radiography was performed on 8 and double contrast cystography on 2 cats. Sonography of the bladder provided the following diagnoses: urolithiasis and chronic cystitis: 24 cases, chronic cystitis without urolithiasis: 4 cases, bladder neoplasm: 1 case, negative sonographic finding: 3 cases. Bladder calculi and/or plugs were diagnosed easily, up to a size of 2 mm, according to acoustic shadowing and/or reverberation and gravitation. When the bladder was empty, it was filled up with physiologic saline solution to visualise its contents more easily. Sonography proved to be a useful technique for diagnosing urinary bladder calculi and/or plugs even when they were radiolucent and for distinguishing among the different causes of LUTD. Although ultrasonography is a valuable diagnostic tool, radiography is still necessary to explore lower urinary tract diseases, especially when cystosonography provides negative results or urethral obstruction is suspected.