Twinkle artefact diagnostic role when having dogs and cats’ digestive system ultrasonography

The article is devoted to the description of the Doppler twinkle artefact recorded during transcutaneous ultrasound examination of dogs and cats’ alimentary canal and characterization of its clinical significance. The object of the study are dogs of different ages and different breeds (45) and cats (53). Ultrasound was performed on SonoAce R7 scanners (Samsung Medison Co., Ltd., Seoul, South Korea) and SIUI Apogee 1100 (Shantou Institute of Ultrasonic Instruments Co., Ltd., Guangdong, China) according to the standard technique using multifrequency convex and linear sensors with frequencies of 3.5-12 MHz. Reproduction of the twinkle artefact in the model was carried out using a plastic container with water in which objects with different densities and interfaces were placed. The characteristic of the “ twinkle artefact ” in Doppler scanning modes which we register only in pathology is given. In 14.7% of cases it was recorded on the surface of foreign bodies of the small intestine. When the artefact was reproduced in the model and it was established that it appeared on objects with a rough surface and high reflectivity. Also “twinkle artefact ” is described with hepatic parenchyma focal area of mineralization.