Contrast‐enhanced ultrasonography in the differentiation of retinal detachment and vitreous membrane in dogs and cats

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEU) and colour Doppler imaging (CDI) for detection of persistent vascularisation in retinal detachment. METHODS: In 22 eyes, retinal detachment (n=13) and vitreous membranes (n=9) were confirmed by ophthalmological examination, during cataract surgery, by histopathology or after vitreoretinal surgery. Tentative diagnosis of retinal detachment or vitreous membrane was made using grey-scale B-mode ultrasonography. Assessment of retinal detachment was based on the presence or absence of vascularisation in the membranous structure using CDI and CEU. RESULTS: Sensitivity, specificity, positive-predictive value and negative-predictive value of grey-scale ultrasonography in differentiating retinal detachment from vitreous membrane were 92·3%, 66·6%, 80% and 85·7%. In 91% of eyes, colour Doppler assessment was unsuccessful due to the movement of the eye. Persistent vascularisation was demonstrated in all cases of retinal detachments with CEU. CEU was 100% accurate for detection and differentiation between retinal detachment and vitreous membrane. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: CEU is a useful clinical tool for the diagnosis of retinal detachment and vitreous membrane in dogs and cats.