Imaging Funzionale della Prostata e della Placenta: Il Ruolo Innovativo della Metodica CEUS (Contrast Enhanced Ultrasound).

This thesis evaluates the use of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) as an advanced diagnostic tool for the evaluation of physiologic characteristics and prostatic and placental alterations in dogs. Two separate experimental studies were conducted: the first on 15 male dogs with Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy (BPH) and the second on 8 bitches at various stages of pregnancy. In the first study, the use of CEUS significantly improved the diagnostic accuracy and monitoring of the therapeutic response to osaterone acetate, characterized by an increase in the duration of the wash-in and wash-out phases of the contrast medium after treatment. These results correlated with a reduction in canine prostate-specific esterase (CPSE) levels after treatment, suggesting the efficacy of CEUS as an indicator of clinical evolution during therapy. The second study confirmed the safety of using CEUS to assess placental perfusion, allowing early detection of abnormalities in pregnancy and, unlike previous studies, assessment of embryo/fetus perfusion in the presence of placental abnormalities. Although CEUS requires advanced equipment and skilled personnel, the results obtained indicate its potential for routine use in veterinary medicine, thus improving the diagnostic and management capabilities of reproductive disorders.