Improved detection of metastatic hepatic hemangiosarcoma nodules with contrast ultrasound in three dogs

Three dogs with a splenic hemangiosarcoma were imaged with conventional gray-scale ultrasound and no lesions were identified in the liver. After administration of intravenous ultrasound contrast medium (Definity®) small, poorly enhanced, hypoechoic nodules were identified in the liver in each dog. The spleen and liver lesions were identified at surgery and the dogs underwent splenectomy and nodule biopsy. All lesions were identified histologically as hemangiosarcoma. These preliminary results suggest that contrast ultrasound may result in improved detectability of metastatic hepatic hemangiosarcoma.