Role of autopsy imaging-computed tomography in the post-mortem study of farm animals.

Background: Autopsy imaging (Ai) is used to determine the cause of death, providing pre-dissection information. Ai is often used in the field of human forensic medicine but has never been applied on farm animals.

Methods: Ai-computed tomography (CT) was performed before necropsy for farm animals (one goat, one ox, one cow and three calves) that died or were euthanised.

Results: Ai-CT findings of rib fractures (case 1), urethral calculi (case 2), multiple osteolytic bone lesions (case 3 and 4) and hair balls (case 4) were confirmed by dissection. However, a tentative diagnosis of actinomycosis was made in an ox (case 5) using antemortem radiography and Ai-CT, and the mass was identified as ameloblastic fibro-odontoma on histological examination. A tentative diagnosis of maxillary abscess was made from antemortem radiography in a cow (case 6); however, the lesion was shown to be maxillary neoplasia on Ai-CT. The mass was identified as hemangiosarcoma on histopathological examination.

Conclusion: Ai is helpful in pathological examination because the specific findings are known before the dissection, the lesions can be pinpointed in the pathological dissection, facilitating workflow; furthermore, the oversight of lesions can be reduced. In addition, Ai-CT images, including three-dimensional images and a three-dimensional printed model, allowed an easy understanding of pathology among students and farmers. Ai-CT for farm animals represents a novel option for veterinary education.