[Standardization of ultrasound examination of the prepuce and free end of the bovine penis]

ABSTRACT Ultrasonography is a noninvasive complementary exam that is still rarely used in the preputial evaluation and without detailed descriptions of the bovine free end of the penis. The purpose of this study was to standardize preputial ultrasonography in one-year-old healthy Nelore cattle, describing the main acoustic windows, the viability of using contrast in the preputial cavity and the best positioning of the animal for performing the ultrasound examination. The scanning was performed with the animals in standing and decubitus position. Five acoustic windows were determined from the preputial ostium to the preputial fornix, at the free end of the penis. The scans were performed in longitudinal, transverse and dorsal planes, before and after infiltration of 0.9% saline solution into the preputial cavity. As conclusions, the ultrasound examination is able to identify the internal layer and the free part of the penis in all proposed planes and acoustic windows. The best landmark is the identification of the glans. Furthermore, standing positioning is the most appropriate to perform the exam and the use of contrast is recommended for topographic delimitation of the structures.

摘要 超声检查（Ultrasonography）是一种无创辅助检查手段，但目前在包皮评估（preputial evaluation）中应用仍较为少见，且针对牛阴茎游离端（bovine free end of the penis）的相关描述尚不完善。本研究旨在规范1岁健康内洛尔牛（Nelore）的包皮超声检查技术，明确主要超声窗（acoustic windows）、包皮腔（preputial cavity）内使用造影剂（contrast）的可行性，以及实施超声检查时的最佳动物保定体位。扫描分别在动物站立与卧位两种体位下进行。研究确定了从阴茎游离端处的包皮口（preputial ostium）至包皮穹窿（preputial fornix）的5个主要超声窗。扫描分别于包皮腔内注入0.9%生理盐水（0.9% saline solution）前后，采用纵切面（longitudinal plane）、横切面（transverse plane）及背侧切面（dorsal plane）进行采集。研究结论表明：超声检查可在所有预设切面与超声窗下识别阴茎内层组织与游离段；最佳解剖标志为龟头（glans）的识别。此外，站立体位为该检查的最优保定方式，推荐使用造影剂以实现组织结构的边界区分（topographic delimitation of the structures）。