Retrospective evaluation of the diagnostic utility of computed tomography in dogs with nontraumatic hemoperitoneum: 26 cases (2015–2020)

Abstract

Objective: To describe the appearance of lesions noted on abdominal computed tomography (CT) in dogs with spontaneous hemoperitoneum and determine the utility in using CT to differentiate benign from malignant lesions. Design: Retrospective case series. Setting: Single-center, university veterinary teaching emergency service. Animals: Twenty-six dogs presented between 2015 and 2020 with spontaneous hemoperitoneum confirmed via abdominocentesis with pre- and postcontrast abdominal CT performed prior to surgery or euthanasia. Interventions: None. Measurements and Main Results: On histopathological diagnosis, 20 of 26 lesions were found to be malignant, and 6 of 26 were benign. Two radiologists reviewed the CTs. Radiologist 1 correctly identified 5 of 6 (83.3%) benign cases and 18 of 20 (90%) malignant cases. Radiologist 2 correctly identified 2 of 6 (33.3%) benign lesions and 18 of 20 (90%) malignant cases. Of the 10 imaging descriptors evaluated, none were significantly associated with the histological diagnosis. Conclusions: Results from the current study suggest that abdominal CT imaging of spontaneous hemoperitoneum cases is not a reliable indicator of malignancy versus benignancy. As such, prognosis should not be defined using this modality alone prior to emergency surgery and instead should be concluded based on the clinical course of the patient and histopathological findings of the resected tissues after surgery.