Case Report: Diagnostic imaging for evaluation of five goats suspected to have congenital macroscopic portosystemic shunts

The objective of this case series is to report diagnostic imaging (computed tomography, nuclear scintigraphy and transabdominal ultrasound) for the identification of portosystemic shunts in five Boer (goat) kids. Two kids presented with neurologic abnormalities, while three others were presented for screening for possible macroscopic portosystemic shunts. Trans-splenic nuclear scintigraphy was successfully done in four goat kids. One goat kid was diagnosed with a macroscopic porto-systemic shunt that was further confirmed using computed tomography. Nuclear scintigraphy was used in three goats; these studies were negative for macroscopic portosystemic shunts. Another goat was only diagnosed with a macroscopic porto-systemic shunt using computed tomography alone. In these five kids, computed tomographic angiography ( n = 2), nuclear scintigraphy ( n = 4) and ultrasound ( n = 2) were all valuable for the evaluation of macroscopic portosystemic shunts. With the increasing popularity of pet livestock, owners are seeking an advanced level of veterinary care and diagnostic imaging, that was once considered impractical.