The sonographic search for portosystemic shunts.

The diagnostic investigation of portosystemic shunts (PSS) has evolved over the last few decades, helping to understand and identify these vascular anomalies that affect many dogs and cats. Ultrasonography has become an important tool in small animals and high-resolution systems are now widely available. Several sonographic features are observed with the different types of congenital and acquired PSS. A systematic, stepwise approach is described to facilitate ultrasound diagnosis of PSS in small animals.