Comparison of echogenicity in ultrasonographic images of liver, kidney and spleen in healthy sheep and evaluation with histogram analysis

In routine ultrasonographic examinations, qualitative and subjective criteria are used for the evaluation of abdominal organs. However, for more reliable and accurate results in diagnosing and treating diseases, quantitative analysis using histograms to measure the histological condition in sonographic images is required. In veterinary medicine, quantitative echogenicity evaluations and criteria for the spleen, liver, and renal tissues in sheep have not been fully determined yet. This study aimed to demonstrate the quantitative echogenicity differences of these organs through histogram analysis of the spleen, liver, and kidneys obtained from healthy sheep. The research material consisted of 14 female Merino breed sheep aged between 8 and 12 months, located at Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University, Faculty of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Food Research Application and Research Center. The echogenicity of the spleen, liver, and kidney tissues obtained from ultrasonographic images of healthy sheep was quantitatively evaluated using histogram analysis. The imaging process was performed by three observers. Imaging of the spleen, liver, and kidneys was conducted. Three images were taken from each organ, resulting in a total of 126 B-mode ultrasonography images from 14 animals. The right lateral recumbent position was used for the liver and kidney imaging, while the left lateral recumbent position was used for the spleen. According to histogram analysis, it was observed that the spleen had the highest echogenicity value, followed by the liver and kidneys. The histogram analysis averages of the spleen, liver, and renal cortex tissues were determined as 126±36.6, 96.5±37, and 65±23.4, respectively. In conclusion, a quantitative difference in echogenicity was found among the spleen, liver, and kidneys in healthy sheep. When these differences are considered, they can be useful in detecting organ pathologies based on quantitative echogenicity differences between organs.