Computed tomographic and ultrasonographic findings of abdominal arterial pseudoaneurysms caused by systemic mycosis in dogs

Objectives: To describe multidetector CT and ultrasonographic characteristics of abdominal arterial pseudoaneurysms (segmental dilatations of an artery with a ruptured tunica intima) arising secondary to systemic mycosis in dogs.

Materials and methods: Retrospective study on dogs with confirmed histological diagnosis of a fungal pseudoaneurysm and the availability of multidetector CT or ultrasound images.

Results: At the time of admission, the three dogs included in this study demonstrated segmental arterial dilation, irregular arterial wall thickening, and increased echogenicity or attenuation within the local perivascular fat on ultrasound and multidetector CT images. Follow-up examinations revealed progressive increase in arterial wall thickening and saccular dilation with formation of a pseudoaneurysm in affected vessels of two dogs.

Clinical significance: Multidetector CT and ultrasonography can be useful imaging modalities in the diagnosis and monitoring of abdominal arterial pseudoaneurysms caused by systemic mycosis.