1. Ultrasound of the Spleen
Wendy Blount, DVM
Click on the blue arrow at bottom left or hit
the “return” key to advance the show
(mouse over to reveal)
Free PowerPoint Templates

2. Patient Preparation Place in dorsal or right lateral recumbency
Right lateral recumbency for:
Compromised & deep chested patients
Head of the spleen on deep chested dogs (intercostal)
Landmarks for finding the spleen:
Head is caudal to the stomach
Spleen often mostly in the left abdomen
Tail can range from right to caudal relative to the head
Free PowerPoint Templates

3. Transition Adjustments
Depth - Adjust according to size of spleen
More shallow for cats, deeper for giant spleens & the canine head of the spleen
Frequency - usually MHz (higher)
Gain and Contrast – usually no change from liver
TGC - Bottom levers may need to go to the middle for head of spleen (they were right for liver)
Top levers may need to go right for body/tail of spleen
Free PowerPoint Templates

4. Image Views Sagittal & transverse Views of 4 locations (8)
1. & Head (cranial)
2. & Cranial Body
3. & Hilus – splenic vein
4. & Tail – can be just about anywhere in the dog
Free PowerPoint Templates

5. Image Views Sagittal & transverse Views (4 each = 8)
1. & Head (cranial) – under the rib cage
2. & Cranial Body
3. & Hilus – splenic vein
4. & Tail (caudal or right)
Free PowerPoint Templates

6. Image Views Sagittal & transverse Views (4 each = 8)
1. & Head (cranial) – under the rib cage
2. & Cranial Body
3. & Hilus – splenic vein
4. & Tail (caudal or right)
Free PowerPoint Templates

7. Scanning
the Spleen
Sagittal
Views
Cranial
Head

8. Scanning
the Spleen
Sagittal
Views
Cranial
Head

9. Scanning
the Spleen
Sagittal
Views
Cranial
Head

10. Scanning
the Spleen
Sagittal
Views
Cranial
Head

11. Scanning
the Spleen
Sagittal
Views
dog
Cranial
Head

12. Scanning
the Spleen
Sagittal
Views
cat
Cranial
Head

13. Scanning
the Spleen
Sagittal
Views
dog
Cranial
Head

14. Scanning
the Spleen
Sagittal
Views
Cranial
Body

15. Scanning
the Spleen
Sagittal
Views
Cranial
Body

16. Scanning
the Spleen
Sagittal
Views
Cranial
Body

17. Scanning
the Spleen
Sagittal
Views
Cranial
Body

18. Scanning
the Spleen
Sagittal
Views
Cranial
Body

19. Scanning
the Spleen
Sagittal
Views
Cranial
Body

20. Scanning
the Spleen
Sagittal
Views
Mid-Body
Hilus

21. Scanning
the Spleen
Sagittal
Views
Mid-Body
Hilus

22. Scanning
the Spleen
Sagittal
Views
Mid-Body
Hilus

23. Scanning
the Spleen
Sagittal
Views
Mid-Body
Hilus

24. Scanning
the Spleen
Sagittal
Views
Mid-Body
Hilus

25. Scanning
the Spleen
Sagittal
Views
dog
Mid-Body
Hilus

26. Scanning
the Spleen
Sagittal
Views
dog
Mid-Body
Hilus

27. Scanning
the Spleen
Sagittal
Views
cat
Mid-Body
Hilus

28. Scanning
the Spleen
Sagittal
Views
cat
Mid-Body
Hilus

29. Scanning
the Spleen
Sagittal
Views
Caudal
Tail

30. Scanning
the Spleen
Sagittal
Views
Caudal
Tail

31. Scanning
the Spleen
Sagittal
Views
Caudal
Tail

32. Scanning
the Spleen
Sagittal
Views
Caudal
Tail

33. Scanning
the Spleen
Sagittal
Views
Caudal
Tail

34. Scanning
the Spleen
Sagittal
Views
Caudal
Tail

35. Scanning
the Spleen
Sagittal
Views
Caudal
Tail

36. Scanning
the Spleen
Sagittal
Views
Caudal
Tail

37. Scanning
the Spleen
Sagittal
Views
Caudal
Tail

38. Scanning
the Spleen
Sagittal
Views
Caudal
Tail

39. Scanning
the Spleen
Sagittal
Views
dog
Caudal
Tail

40. Scanning
the Spleen
Sagittal
Views
cat
Caudal
Tail

41. Scanning
the Spleen
Sagittal
Views
Caudal
Tail

42. Scanning
the Spleen
Sagittal
Views
Caudal
Tail

43. Scanning
the Spleen
Transverse
Views
Caudal
Tail

44. Scanning
the Spleen
Transverse
Views
Caudal
Tail

45. Scanning
the Spleen
Transverse
Views
Caudal
Tail

46. Scanning
the Spleen
Transverse
Views
Caudal
Tail

47. Scanning
the Spleen
Transverse
Views
Caudal
Tail

48. Scanning
the Spleen
Transverse
Views
Caudal
Tail

49. Scanning
the Spleen
Transverse
Views
Mid-Body
Hilus

50. Scanning
the Spleen
Transverse
Views
Mid-Body
Hilus

51. Scanning
the Spleen
Transverse
Views
Mid-Body
Hilus

52. Scanning
the Spleen
Transverse
Views
Mid-Body
Hilus

53. Scanning
the Spleen
Transverse
Views
Mid-Body
Hilus

54. Scanning
the Spleen
Transverse
Views
Mid-Body
Hilus

55. Scanning
the Spleen
Transverse
Views
Mid-Body
Hilus
cat

56. Scanning
the Spleen
Transverse
Views
Cranial
Body

57. Scanning
the Spleen
Transverse
Views
Cranial
Body

58. Scanning
the Spleen
Transverse
Views
Cranial
Body

59. Scanning
the Spleen
Transverse
Views
Cranial
Body

60. Scanning
the Spleen
Transverse
Views
Cranial
Head

61. Scanning
the Spleen
Transverse
Views
Cranial
Head

62. Scanning
the Spleen
Transverse
Views
Cranial
Head

63. Telemedicine Videos Sagittal – head and cranial body of spleen dog cat
Free PowerPoint Templates

64. Telemedicine Videos Sagittal – head and cranial body of spleen
Sagittal – hilus and tail of spleen
Didn’t scan entire width, from medial to lateral
Probe slides cranial as fanned
Free PowerPoint Templates

65. Telemedicine Videos Sagittal – head and cranial body of spleen
Sagittal – hilus and tail of spleen
Nice scan of the caudal tail, but hilus is not included
Spleen tail, plus severe pancreatitis
Free PowerPoint Templates

66. Telemedicine Videos Sagittal – head and cranial body of spleen
Sagittal – hilus and tail of spleen
Nice Scan of the tail of the spleen
Free PowerPoint Templates

67. Telemedicine Videos Sagittal – head and cranial body of spleen
Sagittal – hilus and tail of spleen
Include hilus in both !!
Free PowerPoint Templates

68. Video Academy of Veterinary Imaging: dorsal recumbency
Oncura: lateral recumbency (no video)
Ultrasound of the Spleen
Free PowerPoint Templates

69. Acknowledgments Stephanie Lisciandro, ACVIM (Internal Medicine)
Chapter 4: Focused or COAST3 – Spleen Focused Ultrasound Techniques for the Small Animal Practitioner Editor Greg Lisciandro
Bob Cole, ACVR
Auburn University
The Academy of Veterinary Imaging
2409 Avenue J, Suite C Arlington, TX (800)

70. Acknowledgments John Mattoon, Danelle Auld, Thomas Nyland
Chapter 4: Abdominal Ultrasound Scanning Techniques Small Animal Diagnostic Ultrasound Editors Nyland and Mattoon – 3rd Edition 2014
Thomas Nyland, John Mattoon, Eric Herrgesell. Erik Wisner
Chapter 7: Spleen Small Animal Diagnostic Ultrasound Editors Nyland and Mattoon – 3rd Edition 2014
John P. Graham, MVB, MSc, DVR, MRCVS
Diplomate, ECVDI, Diplomate, ACVR Diagnostic Imaging in Dogs and Cats Nestle Purina – Clinical Handbook Series