BACKGROUND A clinical diagnosis (CDx) of pancreatitis includes evaluation of clinical signs, abdominal ultrasound (AUS), and pancreatic lipase. However, practitioners are using AUS to diagnose pancreatitis and are using AUS severity to guide decisions. The validity of this is unknown. OBJECTIVES To determine whether (1) there is a correlation between AUS, specific canine pancreatic lipase (Spec cPL) assay, and CDx; (2) individual AUS abnormalities correlate more closely with CDx than others; (3) AUS severity mirrors clinical severity indices; (4) changes in AUS can be used as a marker for changes in Spec cPL or CDx; and (5) the sensitivity and specificity of AUS for pancreatitis. ANIMALS One hundred fifty-seven dogs. METHODS In this retrospective case study, inclusion criteria were signs of gastrointestinal, pancreatic disease, or both, in addition to having a Spec cPL and AUS performed within 30 hours. Information extracted from the records included bloodwork, Spec cPL, AUS images/clips, and severity of ultrasonographic findings. RESULTS AUS was weakly correlated with Spec cPL (rs = .0178, P = .03) and moderately correlated with CDx (rs = .379, P = <.001). Pancreatic size (rs = .285, P = <.001), echogenicity (rs = .365, P = <.001), and mesenteric echogenicity (rs = .343, P = <.001) were correlated with CDx. Change in AUS was not correlated with Spec cPL or CDx changes. When pancreatic enlargement, echogenicity, or altered mesenteric echogenicity were required for a diagnosis, the sensitivity and specificity were 89% (95% confidence interval [CI] 71.8, 97.7) and 43% (95% CI 34.0, 51.6). When all 3 criteria were required, the sensitivity and specificity were 43% (95% CI 24.5, 62.8) and 92% (95% CI 85.3, 95.7). CONCLUSIONS AUS should not be used in isolation to diagnose pancreatitis and is a poor indicator of severity.

中文翻译：

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腹部超声检查结果，特定犬胰胰腺脂肪酶测定，临床严重性指标和胰腺炎犬的临床诊断之间的关联。

背景技术胰腺炎的临床诊断（CDx）包括临床体征，腹部超声（AUS）和胰腺脂肪酶的评估。但是，从业人员正在使用AUS诊断胰腺炎，并使用AUS严重程度来指导决策。其有效性尚不清楚。目的确定（1）AUS，特异性犬胰脂肪酶（Spec cPL）测定与CDx之间是否存在相关性；（2）个别AUS异常与CDx的相关性比其他异常密切；（3）AUS严重程度反映临床严重程度指标；（4）AUS的变化可用作Spec cPL或CDx变化的标记；（5）AUS对胰腺炎的敏感性和特异性。动物157条狗。方法在这项回顾性案例研究中，纳入标准是胃肠道疾病，胰腺疾病或两者兼有的迹象，除了在30小时内执行Spec cPL和AUS。从记录中提取的信息包括血液检查，Spec cPL，AUS图像/剪辑以及超声检查结果的严重性。结果AUS与Spec cPL弱相关（rs = .0178，P = .03），与CDx中等相关（rs = .379，P = <.001）。胰腺大小（rs = .285，P = <.001），回声（rs = .365，P = <.001）和肠系膜回声（rs = .343，P = <.001）与CDx相关。AUS的变化与Spec cPL或CDx的变化无关。当需要进行胰腺肿大，回声或肠系膜回声改变时，敏感性和特异性分别为89％（95％置信区间[CI] 71.8、97.7）和43％（95％CI 34.0、51.6）。当所有三个条件都需要时，敏感性和特异性分别为43％（95％CI 24.5，62.8）和92％（95％CI 85.3，95.7）。结论AUS不应单独用于诊断胰腺炎，它是严重程度的不良指标。