Proceeding of Veterinary and Animal Science Days 2018, 6th- 8th June, Milan, Italy 

HAF © 2013 

Vol. V, No. 1s  ISSN: 2283-3927 

   

 

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Pyloric stenosis is rarely reported in horses (Bart et al 1980; Bezdecova et al. 2009). Congenital 

and acquired conditions have been described (Church et al 1986; Heidmann et al 2004; Laing et 

al. 1992; McGill et al. 1984) clinical suspicion is based on clinical findings while definitive diagnosis 

is reached by exploratory laparotomy and gastroscopy. The use of other diagnostic techniques 

has never been described. Two foals were admitted for recurrent abdominal pain. Clinical and 

ultrasonographic (US) examinations were performed.  Foals underwent Computed Tomography 

(CT) of the abdomen, both native and Helical Hydro-CT. US revealed mild stomach distension, 

mild small bowel wall thickening; small intestine obstruction was suspected in both foals. Case 1, 

two-month old Thoroughbred filly 130 kg of weight: CT showed segmental concentric pylorus 

stenosis, at the pyloric duodenal junction level. Mild liquid distension of the pyloric antrum and 

mixed gas and fluid distension of the cranial duodenum. During necroscopy the pyloric antrum 

showed stenosis due to an inelastic constricting ring reducing the lumen of the pyloric canal. 

The glandular part presented mild acute catarrhal gastritis. Case 2, three-month old Italian 

Saddle colt 142 kg of weigh: CT showed small amount of intraluminal hyperattenuanting material 

within the gastric fundus and duodenum. Hydro-CT highlighted the presence of mild pylorus 

narrowing, mild distension and moderate mucosal irregularities of the pyloric antrum. An 

acquired pyloric stenosis secondary to chronic gastritis of unknown origin was suspected. 

Explorative laparotomy was performed; the antrum was mildly distended and the pylorus 

appeared narrowed and hard on palpation; gastrojejunostomy was performed. Ante-mortem 

diagnosis of pyloric stenosis in horses is challenging because aspecific clinical signs. Native CT 

 

 

 

Keywords 

Pyloric stenosis, Horse, CT, 

Contrast agent, Hydro-Computed 

Tomography.  

 
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR 

Vanesssa Rabbogliatti 

Vanessa.rabbogliatti@unimi.it 

 
JOURNAL HOME PAGE 

riviste.unimi.it/index.php/haf 

Helical Hydro-Computed Tomography in 

the diagnosis of pyloric stenosis in two 

foals. 

V. Rabbogliatti1,*, M. Di Giancamillo1, D. De Zani1, D. Gioeni1, 

F. Di Cesare1, E.S. D’Urso1, G. Ravasio1, D. D.Zani1 

1 Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano via 
dell’Università 6 26900 Lodi, Italy.  

 

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/deed.en


Proceeding of Veterinary and Animal Science Days 2018, 6th- 8th June, Milan, Italy 76 

HAF © 2013 

Vol. V, No. 1s  ISSN: 2283-3927 

allowed to investigate both the stomach and the small intestine and, in one case, outlined the 

presence of pylorus stenosis. In case 2, only Helical Hydro-CT allowed better evaluation of the 

pyloric thickness. CT and Helical Hydro-CT can be considered a useful diagnostic tool in foal with 

clinical suspicion of pyloric stenosis. 

 
 

 

 

References 

Barth, A.D., Barber, S.M., McKenzie, N.T. 1980. Pyloris stenosis in a foal. Can Vet J. 21:234-236. 

Bezdekova, B., Hanak, J. 2009. Pyloric stenosis in horses: a seven case reports. Veterinarni Medicina. 

54:244-248. 

Church, S., Baker, J.R., May, S.A. 1986. Gastric retention associated with acquired pyloric stenosis in a 

gelding. Equine Vet J. 18:332-334. 

Heidmann, P., Saulez, M.N., Cebra, C.K. 2004. Pyloric stenosis with reflux oesophagitis in a 

Thoroughbred filly. Equine Vet Educ. 16:172-177 

Laing, J.A, Hutchins, D.R. 1992. Acquired pyloric stenosis and gastric retention in a mare. Aust vet J. 

69:68-69 

McGill, C.A., Bolton, J.R. 1984. Gastric retention associated with a pyloric mass in two horses. Aus. vet J. 

61:190-195 

 

Figure 1:  A) Hyro-CT scan at level of the pyloric stenosis. Pylorus was narrowed and pyloric margins appeared 

irregular (arrows). (B) In the second foal, the pylorus was regular in shape but mildly narrowed. Antral walls were 

thickened and some heterogeneous hyperdense material was present in the gastric fundus. 

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