A board certified Veterinary Radiologist (Diplomat of American College of Veterinary Radiology ACVR) will be performing and interpreting the ultrasound study today and will provide your Veterinarian with a written report of the findings to discuss with you.

Some patients may require sedation for the examination, as patients must lie quite still for 20-40 minutes. If sedation is recommended, it will be given by your regular Veterinarian and staff (or Veterinarian/staff at the clinic/hospital). I understand some risks may be associated with sedation. I also understand that if sedation is not used (or is not effective) in overtly anxious, tense, panting, obese, or moving patients, the quality of the ultrasound may be affected.

I understand that ultrasound is a diagnostic test, and may not provide a definitive diagnosis on some cases. Additional tests (blood tests, biopsies, radiographs etc) or consultation with additional specialists may be recommended by your Veterinarian to continue the evaluation and treatment options of your pet.

If abnormal tissue/organs are seen on the ultrasound, a fine needle aspirate procedure (small size needle is placed in the tissue with ultrasound guidance to obtain some cells, which are placed on a slide and sent to a Veterinary Pathologist for review) may be recommended. I understand that this is a relatively low risk procedure, however hemorrhage/complications can occur (and this risk is slightly greater in suspect cancer tissue). Aspirate results are approximately 50-90% diagnostic depending on the tissue.

In certain cases, a biopsy of abnormal tissue or organ may be recommended. This procedure is slightly more invasive and requires an anesthesia to obtain a small piece of tissue with ultrasound guidance. If this procedure is recommended, it would be scheduled for a future appointment time or referral.