Veterinary Radiology & Ultrasound最新文献

Alfaxalone is a neuroactive steroid that modulates the GABA_A receptor, which has shown recent widespread use as a sedative and anesthetic agent in cats, especially in patients being screened for cardiovascular disease. This prospective, partially blinded, randomized experimental study aimed to determine if sedation with alfaxalone would alter the appearance of the cardiac silhouette or pulmonary vasculature on thoracic radiographs or echocardiographic indices of cardiac or pulmonary vascular size. Eleven apparently healthy adult cats were recruited from a research colony. Four-view thoracic radiographs and an echocardiogram were performed at baseline and following a 5 mg/kg intramuscular dose of alfaxalone. Vertebral heart score (VHS) and cranial and caudal lobar pulmonary vascular measurements were obtained at both time points by two independent blinded observers, and these were analyzed using two-way ANOVA. The nonblinded echocardiographer obtained echocardiographic measurements at both time points, which were analyzed using a paired t-test or Wilcoxon signed rank test. No significant differences were identified in VHS measurements or echocardiographic parameters between baseline and sedated cats. In healthy cats, alfaxalone does not appear to significantly affect the cardiovascular structures evaluated via thoracic radiography or echocardiography.

The anatomical variations of the maxillary septum and the septal bullae can generate challenges during the interpretation of radiographs of the horses' heads and make it difficult to accurately identify the sites affected in sinus disorders. The description of the radiographic appearance of these structures is currently scarce in the scientific literature. This work aims to describe the anatomical and radiographic characteristics of the maxillary septum and maxillary septal bullae in horses. Six chemically preserved equine cadaver heads were used which, after being submitted to the maxillary osseous flap, the maxillary septum and its respective bullae were identified. Radiographic examinations before and after contrast impregnation on these structures were performed. The positioning of the maxillary septum varied between the anatomical specimens and between the sides of the same specimen. The 30° oblique dorsoventral lateral and lateral projections allowed the identification of the maxillary septum and septal bullae. However, the bullae remained superimposed on the dental arches in the dorsoventral projections with the mandible in a neutral position or with the mandible displaced. The oblique offset radiographic positioning was suggested and proved effective for the examination of the maxillary septal bullae, where the mandible was displaced to the side of the bullae to be examined, and the radiographic beam inclined in the same direction. The maxillary septum and its bullae could be properly identified in a macroscopic way after the osseous flap and the contrasted radiographic examination allowed its adequate interpretation. Variations in size and position are considered normal for the equine species.

High-field MRI of the equine stifle provides high-resolution information about soft tissues that is useful in the diagnosis of stifle lameness. The aim of this prospective anatomic study was to describe the appearance, position, size, and shape of the equine femorotibial ligaments, meniscal ligaments, and menisci using 3 Tesla MRI under extended, extended-loaded, and flexed conditions. Additionally, histologic examination of the collateral and cruciate ligaments (CLs) of a single stifle was performed to compare with MRI images. In extension, mild variations in MRI signal intensity were apparent in the CLs, and the cranial had two distinct longitudinal regions indicating two ligament bundles. Flexion had minor effects on CL signal intensity and altered the tibial angles of attachment. Histology indicated that both CLs were comprised of two fiber bundles. The collateral ligaments were the same low-signal intensity. The medial collateral ligament had a smaller cross-sectional area than the lateral, and flexion increased the length of the medial collateral ligament and the cross-sectional area of the lateral. Low loads in extension did not affect the MRI appearance of stifle soft tissues. Flexion of the stifle impacted cruciate ligament insertion angles and the size and shape of collateral ligaments. This study provides support for the use of MRI to understand the anatomy and function of stifle ligaments.

A 12-year-old domestic shorthair cat was presented with relapsing noncardiogenic chylothorax. CT-lymphangiography of the thorax confirmed bilateral pleural effusion without evidence of an underlying intra-thoracic origin. Abdominal CT-lymphangiography revealed a 2.6 cm diameter splenic mass surrounded by chylous effusion actively collecting during ultrasonographic assessment. Following splenectomy, histopathological analysis revealed that the splenic mass exhibited characteristics indicative of splenic angiosarcoma. This case report highlights the utility of advanced thoracic and abdominal imaging, notably CT-lymphangiography, in the diagnostic evaluation of chylothorax in cats. The identification of a splenic mass encased in chylous effusion should prompt a proactive case management strategy.

Evidence-based medicine drives patient care decision-making; thus, accurate and complete reporting in scientific publications is paramount. A checklist for complete reporting of veterinary radiation therapy was proposed in 2012 using the recommendations of the International Commission of Radiation Units and Measurements (ICRU). The purpose of this study is to review the 2012 checklist and propose updates based on changes in technology. Significant technology advancements have gained traction in veterinary medicine, including intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and stereotactic radiation therapy (SRT), both of which have related modality-specific ICRU reporting recommendations. The 2012 checklist and proposed 2024 checklist are then used to assess the completeness of reporting in veterinary radiation oncology publications between 2015 and 2022, of which one hundred and eight publications met the inclusion criteria. Prior to the publication of the 2012 checklist (2005-2010), only nine checklist items showed a good level of completeness in reporting, and from 2015 to 2022, this increased to 16 items. Encouraging and/or requiring the use of reporting checklists at the time of manuscript submission may be responsible for this improvement in reporting. Using the 2024 checklist, which is more relevant to publications discussing IMRT and SRT treatments, only 14 of the analyzed checklist items (34%) show a good level of completeness in reporting, suggesting there is a need for updated guidelines to capture the nuances of advanced techniques. This study proposes a 2024 checklist that can be used as a guideline for future reporting of radiation therapy in veterinary medicine.

The nasopharyngeal disease is common in felines. Nasopharyngeal stenosis is uncommonly a congenital problem, with most cases being secondary to other diseases. An 8-month-old male neutered domestic shorthair presented with a chief complaint of chronic nasal congestion, open-mouth breathing, and discharge. CT was performed, and palatal dysgenesis resulting in complete nasopharyngeal obstruction, secondary nasopharyngitis, and rostral nasal turbinate lysis were found. This was confirmed by an endoscopic evaluation of the nasopharynx region, which demonstrated a lack of connection between the nasopharynx and oropharynx. This is the first CT report documenting congenital palate dysgenesis resulting in complete obstruction of the nasopharynx.

Tumors located at the heart base are rare in dogs and cats and aortic body tumors (chemodectoma/paraganglioma), hemangiosarcoma, ectopic thyroid carcinoma, lymphoma, and other uncommon neoplasia can be found at that location. The objective of this retrospective case series was to describe the CT characteristics of canine and feline heart base tumors. CT studies of 21 dogs and four cats with histologically or cytologically confirmed heart base tumors were reviewed for size, location, shape, margination, contrast enhancement, adjacent neovascularization, invasion, mass effect, cavitary effusions, and metastasis. Neuroendocrine tumors (15 aortic body tumors, three ectopic thyroid carcinoma, and three nonspecific neuroendocrine) were more commonly observed than hemangiosarcoma (4) and were frequently located between the cranial vena cava and aortic arch (12/21; 57%) and or dorsal to the pulmonary trunk bifurcation/pulmonary arteries (10/21; 48%). Hemangiosarcoma was more commonly found cranioventral to the aortic arch and cranial to the right auricular appendage (3/4; 75%). Mediastinal and peritumoral neovascularization was associated with 16/21 (76%) neuroendocrine tumors but none of the hemangiosarcoma. Median postcontrast attenuation in Hounsfield units (HU) was higher in neuroendocrine (110 HU) than in hemangiosarcoma (51 HU). Pericardial effusion was frequently observed with hemangiosarcoma (3/4; 75%) and infrequently in neuroendocrine (3/21; 14%). In four cases (all neuroendocrine), concurrent cranial mediastinal masses were present. CT provides useful information regarding the characteristics of heart base tumors, indicating differences between the appearance of neuroendocrine tumors and hemangiosarcoma. However, no differences were found between aortic body tumors and ectopic thyroid carcinoma.

Variability in prostate gland positioning during RT for prostate tumors is a recognized challenge in both human and veterinary oncology. This retrospective study investigates the interfractional variability in prostate gland positioning in relation to rectal and bladder volumes in dogs undergoing radiation therapy (RT) for prostate tumors. The study tracked 10 dogs undergoing five RT sessions from February 2016 to November 2021, delivering a total of 25 Gy each. Each dog underwent CT scans for treatment simulation, and cone-beam CT (CBCT) images were acquired before each RT. The focus was to analyze the positional shifts of the prostate gland concerning the volumes of the rectum and urinary bladder. The pelvic bones were used as the point of reference. The rectal and bladder volumes were measured before each RT, and shifts in the prostate gland position were calculated by comparing coordinates from planning CT and treatment session images. Findings revealed significant correlations between prostate positional shifts in the dorsal-ventral (repeated measures correlation coefficient of -0.58 [range 00.75-00.33]; P < .001) and cranial-caudal directions (repeated measures correlation coefficient [95%CI] 0.56 [range 0.31-0.74]; P < .001) and rectal volume, while no significant relationship was observed with bladder volume. Shifts in the lateral direction were not correlated with either organ's volume. This study highlights the importance of considering rectal volume in canine prostate tumor RT to minimize positional uncertainties. Maintaining consistent rectal volume may enhance the precision of prostate targeting, potentially influencing the safety of RT.