Is it the Liver or the Gallbladder? Improve your detective work with ultrasound skills!

In this program, participants will learn about making an imaging diagnosis of hepatobiliary disease using radiography and ultrasound. The program will consist of a review of the most up to date literature and use numerous case examples to illustrate the most important aspects of imaging dogs and cats. Participants will learn how to recognize an abnormal liver on ultrasound and how to prioritize the differential diagnosis list and make the next best steps. Common diffuse and multifocal liver diseases will be discussed. The program will also serve to address the animal with icterus. The biliary tract from intrahepatic to extrahepatic bile duct disease will be discussed. Making a diagnosis of gallbladder mucocele and learning the limitations of ultrasonography for diagnosing rupture will be discussed.

Learning objectives:
1. Understand the prioritized list of differentials for diffuse hyperechogenicity of the liver and the limitations of ultrasound for diffuse liver disease
2. Understand what causes multifocal nodules in the liver
3. Understand the causes of hepatic cavitations and cavitated masses.
4. Understand how hepatic and biliary emphysema appear and learn their causes.
5. Understand how to diagnose gallbladder mucocele and the wide variation of their appearance.
6. Understand how to recognize a ruptured gallbladder and the limitations of ultrasound