What does gastric wall edema look like in dogs?

VRU 63(6): 711-718

May 28, 2023

Study: The study is a retrospective, case series that describes CT features of gastric wall edema in a group of dogs. The aim of this study was to describe CT features of gastric wall edema in a group of dogs with a diagnosis of gastric wall edema based on histopathology or CT characteristics consistent with those reported in humans.

Methods: Medical records were searched for dogs with postcontrast abdominal CT scans and a diagnosis of gastric wall edema based on histopathology (group I) or CT characteristics consistent with those reported in humans (group II). Clinical diagnosis, mean serum albumin concentration, and histopathological diagnosis were recorded. The following CT characteristics were recorded: numbers of wall layers, attenuation and contrast enhancement, presence of blood vessels, locations, distribution, and thickness.

Results: Twelve dogs (3 in group I and 9 in group II) were included. The most common clinical finding was hypoalbuminemia. In group I, a well-defined three-layer appearance with a non-enhancing fluid-attenuating middle layer was observed in three dogs and thin blood vessels in the middle layer in two dogs. In group II, nine dogs had a three-layer appearance with a non-enhancing fluid-attenuating middle layer. Locations of gastric wall thickening were diffuse in two, focal concentric in six, and focal asymmetric in four dogs.

Conclusion: Findings supported including gastric wall edema as a differential diagnosis for dogs with hypoalbuminemia and CT characteristics of a three-layer appearance in the gastric wall, with a non-enhancing fluid-attenuating middle layer and thin blood vessels.

Transverse images of pre- (A) and post-contrast (B) CT of the gastric wall edema in a dog in soft tissue window (window level: 40 HU, window width: 350 HU). Focal concentric gastric wall thickening of the gastric body with three-layer appearance (a thin inner and outer enhancing soft tissue attenuating layer and thick non-enhancing fluid attenuating middle layer) is present. Multiple small tortuous contrast enhancing blood vessels are present in the fluid attenuating middle layer of the gastric wall (dotted arrows). Arrowheads and arrows showing the luminal and serosal margins of the gastric wall, respectively. The stomach is filled with fluid. 140 kVp, 340 mA, soft tissue algorithm, and a slice thickness of 3.75 mm were used

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