New case report links ultrasound ‘whirl sign’ to canine pancreatic torsion
Bottom line
Ultrasound may give clinicians an earlier clue to pancreatic torsion in dogs, based on a new case report in Veterinary Radiology & Ultrasound describing a 7-month-old Labrador Retriever in which abdominal ultrasound identified a characteristic “whirl sign” before surgery confirmed the diagnosis. The puppy presented with vomiting, inappetence, and lethargy, and the diagnosis was later confirmed surgically and on histopathology, according to the report summary. The authors say it’s the first published description of an ultrasound “whirl sign” linked to pancreatic torsion in a dog, adding a potentially useful imaging marker for a condition that remains exceptionally rare. (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
Why it matters: Pancreatic torsion in dogs has been documented only in a small number of published case reports, and earlier reports did not describe this ultrasound sign. A 2015 case report described pancreatic torsion in a 6-month-old Cane Corso that was diagnosed only at exploratory surgery, while a 2024 report of a 3-month-old Bernese Mountain Dog again described a hypoechoic cranial abdominal mass on ultrasound, with torsion confirmed at laparotomy and good long-term outcome after partial pancreatectomy. For veterinary professionals, the new report suggests that when a young dog presents with acute gastrointestinal signs and an unusual pancreatic-region mass, recognition of a “whirl sign” on ultrasound could sharpen suspicion for torsion and help move the case more quickly toward surgery. That matters because pancreatic ultrasound is technically challenging and can miss serious disease, even in experienced hands. (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
What to watch: Watch for whether additional case reports validate the ultrasound “whirl sign” as a repeatable preoperative marker, or show how often it overlaps with other abdominal torsion syndromes already known to produce similar imaging findings. (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
Key facts
- Journal
- Veterinary Radiology & Ultrasound
- Case type
- Canine case report
- Patient
- 7-month-old Labrador Retriever
- Clinical signs
- Vomiting, inappetence, and lethargy
- Ultrasound finding
- Characteristic "whirl sign" in the pancreatic region
- Diagnosis confirmation
- Confirmed at surgery and on histopathology
- Claimed novelty
- First published description of an ultrasound "whirl sign" linked to pancreatic torsion in a dog
- Condition
- Pancreatic torsion
A new canine imaging case report may give veterinarians a more specific preoperative clue for one of the rarest pancreatic emergencies in dogs. In Veterinary Radiology & Ultrasound, Chris Holm and Jonathan T. Shiroma describe a 7-month-old Labrador Retriever with vomiting, inappetence, and lethargy whose abdominal ultrasound showed a “whirl sign,” with pancreatic torsion later confirmed at surgery and on histopathology. Based on the report abstract, this is the first published description of that ultrasound sign in a dog with pancreatic torsion. (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
That’s notable because pancreatic torsion is still represented in the literature mostly by isolated case reports. A 2015 Canadian Veterinary Journal report described a 6-month-old Cane Corso with vomiting, abdominal pain, and lethargy; in that case, pancreatic torsion was diagnosed during exploratory surgery and confirmed histopathologically after partial pancreatectomy. More recently, a 2024 Veterinary Medicine and Science case report described successful surgical management in a 3-month-old Bernese Mountain Dog, with no evidence of long-term pancreatic dysfunction 14 months after surgery. The authors of that paper said only a single prior canine pancreatic torsion case report had been described at the time, underscoring how limited the evidence base remains. (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
The new report adds a diagnostic detail that could matter in practice: a recognizable sonographic “whirl sign” in the region of the pancreas. In veterinary imaging, the “whirl sign” is already familiar from other torsion syndromes. A 2020 Veterinary Radiology & Ultrasound study of eight dogs with surgically confirmed splenic torsion found the sign in seven cases on CT, and newer reports have also described it in urinary bladder and testicular torsion. The implication is that radiologists and emergency clinicians may be able to apply an already known pattern-recognition concept to a much rarer pancreatic presentation. (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
At the same time, ultrasound of the pancreas is far from straightforward. Professional small-animal ultrasound guidance notes that pancreatic ultrasound has a significant false-negative rate for serious pancreatic disease, and that normal-appearing imaging does not exclude pathology. The pancreas can be difficult to visualize because of bowel gas, patient conformation, and the organ’s often subtle echogenic distinction from surrounding mesentery. That context makes a more distinctive sign, if reproducible, especially relevant for frontline practice and tele-ultrasound interpretation. (bmus.org)
I wasn’t able to find a press release or outside expert commentary specifically addressing this new Labrador case, which is typical for narrowly focused veterinary case reports. But the broader literature points in a consistent direction: when torsion is suspected in abdominal organs, surgery is often both diagnostic and therapeutic. In the previously published pancreatic torsion reports, exploratory laparotomy and partial pancreatectomy were used to confirm and treat the lesion, and both dogs recovered without reported major postoperative complications; the 2024 case also documented reassuring long-term pancreatic function testing. (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, this report doesn’t change standard of care on its own, but it may refine the differential list in the right case. A young dog with acute vomiting, lethargy, abdominal pain or inappetence, and an atypical cranial abdominal or pancreatic-region lesion on ultrasound might not simply have pancreatitis, a mass, or nonspecific inflammatory change. If the “whirl sign” is present, pancreatic torsion may deserve earlier consideration, especially because the published canine cases to date have involved very young dogs and required surgery for confirmation and treatment. Earlier suspicion could improve communication with pet parents, accelerate referral decisions, and reduce delays to exploratory surgery in unstable patients. (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
There are still important limitations. This is a case report, not a validation study, so clinicians can’t assume the sign will be present in every case or that it’s specific to pancreatic torsion. Similar “whirl” patterns occur in other torsion disorders, and pancreatic disease on ultrasound remains vulnerable to false negatives and interpretation challenges. In other words, the new finding is best viewed as an additional clue, not a standalone rule-out or rule-in test. That’s an inference based on the broader torsion and ultrasound literature, rather than a direct claim from the case abstract itself. (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
What to watch: The next step is whether the full paper, and any follow-on reports, define the sonographic appearance in enough detail for wider adoption, and whether future canine cases show the “whirl sign” consistently enough to become a practical trigger for urgent surgical consultation. (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)