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Feline (Devon Rex) · Ultrasound — Abdomen

UltrasoundAbdomenLevel: Radiologist
Species
Feline
Breed
Devon Rex
Age
4 years
Sex
Male neutered
Weight
5 kg
Level
Radiologist

Presenting complaint and brief history

  • 4.5-year-old neutered male Devon Rex presented with 3–4 days of vomiting, hyporexia, lethargy, vocalization and abdominal pain. He had a history of intermittent vomiting but was acutely worse.
  • Initial bloodwork showed marked hepatobiliary abnormalities including ALT 3,829 U/L, increased GGT and total bilirubin.
  • Of note, ALP was not elevated.
  • Abdominal ultrasound was performed to investigate suspected pancreatitis/hepatobiliary disease and possible biliary obstruction.

Diagnosis

Hides the diagnosis, imaging findings, outcome, take-home points and correlation photos so you can read the images blind.

Cholecystitis/cholangitis and mild pancreatitis

Highly suspected

Imaging findings

  • Mild, diffuse gallbladder wall thickening
  • Small volume nonshadowing gallbladder sludge.
  • Distended and tortuous common bile duct, measuring up to 6 mm.
  • Mild common bile duct (CBD) wall thickening with a small volume of nonshadowing, non-obstructive luminal debris.
  • Thickening of the duodenal papilla.
  • No obstructing biliary calculus, intraluminal obstruction or stricture identified.
  • Left pancreatic limb mildly thickened and hypoechoic with mildly hyperechoic surrounding fat, consistent with mild pancreatitis/regional steatitis.
  • No abdominal effusion.

What happened with the patient

  • Ultrasound showed mild pancreatitis with regional steatitis, mild gallbladder wall thickening, and mild common bile duct dilation with nonobstructive debris. The duodenal papilla was also thickened. No obstructing stone or stricture was identified.
  • The patient was managed medically with analgesia, antiemetics, antibiotics and supportive care. Clinical signs and appetite improved. ALT decreased from 3,829 to 1,868 U/L, while GGT and bilirubin normalized. ALP remained normal.

Key take-home points

  • A dilated common bile duct does not always mean there is an obstruction.
  • Also, stones can be present in the common bile duct (choledocoliths) without causing an obstruction.
  • Pancreatitis can occur together with inflammation of the gallbladder, bile ducts and duodenal papilla.

Contributed by

Educational use only — not clinical advice.

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Cite this case

Winter L. Cholecystitis/cholangitis and mild pancreatitis. Radabase case e0149fe0. Retrieved 2026-10-05 from https://www.radabase.vet/case/e0149fe0-33fa-42b4-a951-041ae1c2bd06