# B-Mode Ultrasonography and Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse Elastography in Evaluation of Urothelial Carcinoma in Dogs

## TL;DR

This study shows that ARFI elastography can help diagnose bladder cancer in dogs by measuring tissue stiffness and wall thickness.

## Contribution

The study introduces ARFI elastography as a noninvasive diagnostic tool for canine urothelial carcinoma.

## Key findings

- SWV was significantly higher in dogs with urothelial carcinoma compared to healthy dogs.
- Bladder wall thickness was greater in dogs with carcinoma than in healthy dogs.
- SWV demonstrated 100% sensitivity and 88.9% specificity in differentiating healthy and cancerous tissues.

## Abstract

Urothelial carcinoma is the most common and aggressive bladder tumor in dogs. Using ARFI (Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse) elastography, we found that shear wave velocity (SWV) and bladder wall thickness were significantly higher in dogs with urothelial carcinoma compared to healthy dogs. In addition, SWV showed a high sensitivity and specificity in differentiating healthy and neoplastic tissues. We suggest that ARFI elastography, as a noninvasive and quantitative approach, can be used as a promising tool for diagnosing urothelial carcinoma in dogs.

Bladder tumors in dogs represent approximately 2% of all malignant lesions recorded, with urothelial carcinoma being the most common and aggressive form. This study aimed to characterize the elastographic properties of canine urothelial carcinoma using ARFI (Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse) elastography and to evaluate its diagnostic capacity. Seven dogs with urothelial carcinoma and nine healthy dogs were evaluated, comparing shear wave velocity (SWV) and bladder wall thickness between the groups. The results showed that SWV was significantly higher in dogs with urothelial carcinoma (median of 2.53 m/s) compared with healthy dogs (median of 1.41 m/s) (p = 0.0045). Bladder wall thickness was also greater in dogs with carcinoma (0.28 ± 0.05 cm) compared to healthy dogs (0.14 ± 0.26 cm) (p = 0.0003). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis revealed a high sensitivity (100%) and specificity (88.9%) for SWV in differentiating healthy and neoplastic tissues. These findings suggest that ARFI elastography is a promising tool for diagnosing urothelial carcinoma in dogs, offering a noninvasive and quantitative approach that can complement traditional diagnostic methods. ARFI elastography may aid in early diagnosis and clinical management, improving the prognosis of patients with bladder neoplasia.