ULTRASONOGRAPHY AS A DIAGNOSTIC TOOL IN RUMINANT VETERINARY MEDICINE: APPLICATIONS IN THE MAMMARY GLAND

Abstract

Brazilian livestock stands out as one of the most important in the world, with Brazil being the third largest producer of milk in the world, currently producing more than 34 billion liters/year. Thus, rapid diagnosis and prognosis is necessary for the early and/or subclinical identification of pathologies that may interfere with dairy farming, directly impacting the Brazilian economy. This requires mastery of the clinical examination of the mammary gland, which must be performed through thorough and complete inspection and palpation, in addition to the use of modern, precise and fast methods, such as ultrasound. Ultrasound of the mammary gland has been highlighted for being a non-invasive method that allows the visualization and measurement of different structures (length and width of the teat canal, diameter of the cistern and thickness of the teat wall) and pathological changes (gas formation, obstructions, hematomas, abscesses, stenosis and fibrosis). The most commonly used technique is direct contact scanning with low-frequency linear, convex, and microconvex transducers of 2.5–6.6 MHz and water bath scanning. However, the technique of immersion in a water bath has been used when it is desired to meticulously evaluate the structures of the ceiling, as it produces a high-quality image. Thus, the use of ultrasound presents itself as a practical and efficient tool, enabling the identification of alterations in the mammary gland and contributing to both the prevention and treatment of diseases, being of great relevance in the area of Veterinary Medicine.