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Topic:Diagnostic Imaging
Diagnostic imaging in horses encompasses a range of techniques used to visualize the internal structures of the equine body for the purpose of diagnosis and treatment planning. These techniques include radiography, ultrasonography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), and nuclear scintigraphy. Each modality offers unique advantages in assessing different tissues and conditions, such as bone fractures, soft tissue injuries, and joint abnormalities. Radiography is commonly employed for evaluating bone structures, while ultrasonography is frequently used for soft tissue assessment. MRI and CT provide detailed cross-sectional images, facilitating the examination of complex anatomical regions. Nuclear scintigraphy can detect areas of increased bone activity, often used in lameness evaluations. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the applications, advancements, and comparative effectiveness of diagnostic imaging modalities in equine veterinary practice.
Instrumentation and techniques in respiratory surgery. In this article, videoendoscopy in conjunction with high-speed treadmill exercise and other specialized diagnostic techniques used to measure upper airway function are reviewed as they pertain to the four most commonly diagnosed functional upper airway obstructions: (1) laryngeal hemiplegia, (2) arytenoid chondritis, (3) epiglottic entrapment, and (4) intermittent dorsal displacement of the soft palate. Using experimental and clinical findings obtained with these new instruments and diagnostic techniques, current recommendations for surgery of these obstructions are presented.
Instrumentation and techniques in transendoscopic upper respiratory tract laser surgery. Transendoscopic laser surgery provides equine surgeons with a safe, reliable, and minimally invasive method of performing many surgical procedures in the upper respiratory tract. Although the Nd:YAG laser has proven efficacy, other newer lasers such as the diode and holmium: YAG lasers may prove to be useful tools for equine upper respiratory tract surgery. Long grasping forceps and a high quality fiberoptic or video endoscope are critical components necessary for performing transendoscopic laser surgery. For many of the most common upper respiratory tract abnormalities, a laryngotomy can be e...
Radiological appearance of air introduced during equine regional limb anaesthesia. Twelve horses were injected intra-articularly into the metacarpophalangeal joint and extra-articularly in the region of the lateral palmar digital nerve with 1 ml air and local anaesthetic to simulate gas accidentally introduced during regional anaesthesia. Half the horses underwent limited exercise after which all horses were radiographed at 15 and 45 min and then every 24 h until all evidence of gas had disappeared. Intra-articular gas appeared as gas capped radiolucencies (GCR) in the proximal aspect of the joint. Extra-articular gas appeared as linear radiolucencies (LR) which initially te...
Ultrasonographic examination of the femorotibial articulation in horses: imaging of the cranial and caudal aspects. The aim of this study was to determine the normal ultrasonographic features of the cranial and caudal aspects of the femorotibial articulation and, in particular, to establish a method of examining the menisci, cruciate and meniscal ligaments ultrasonographically. Twenty hindlimbs isolated post mortem from 10 horses were used to study the normal ultrasonographic and gross anatomy of the femorotibial joint. Five stifles from 3 normal, live horses were also examined with B-mode, real-time ultrasound imaging. The results of the anatomical study are presented. The joint surfaces, menisci, cruciate...
Ultrasonography of the equine triceps muscle before and after general anaesthesia and in post anaesthetic myopathy. The ultrasonographic appearance of the equine triceps muscle of clinically normal horses, before and after general anaesthesia, was investigated and compared with 5 cases of post anaesthetic myopathy. The triceps muscle areas were examined bilaterally using a 7.5 MHz linear array probe in 2 different planes, with each limb both weightbearing and nonweightbearing. The triceps muscles of 4 unanaesthetised horses were scanned twice, 24 h apart. Six horses underwent general anaesthesia and were scanned pre-anaesthesia and at 1 and 24 h intervals after recovery. Blood samples were obtained in the u...
[Ascites as a result of peritoneal mesotheliomas in a horse]. An abdominal tumor was suspected after clinical evaluation in an eight-year-old, bay-coloured hannoveranian gelding. The diagnosis was based on the symptoms of ascites, on the results of the transcutaneous abdominal ultrasound examination and on the characteristic changes in the serum-electrophoresis. Postmortem a peritoneal mesothelioma was diagnosed. This primary tumor of the peritoneum is rarely described in horses.
Scintigraphic evaluation of 99mTc-methylene diphosphonate uptake in the navicular area of horses with lameness isolated to the foot by anesthesia of the palmar digital nerves. To evaluate distribution and intensity of 99mTc-methylene diphosphonate (99mTc-MDP) uptake in the navicular area in horses with forelimb lameness isolated to the palmar aspect of the foot. Methods: Prospective, case-controlled study. Methods: 7 horses with clinical signs of navicular syndrome and 7 control horses. Methods: Palmar view, soft tissue-phase scintigraphic images of the foot were obtained between 7 and 12 minutes after injection of 120 to 170 mCi of 99mTc-MDP. Lateral and palmar view, bone-phase images were obtained at 30 minutes and 1, 2, and 4 hours after injection. Palmar views w...
Biological and imaging characteristics and radiation dose rates associated with the use of technetium-99m-labelled imidodiphosphate in the horse. The biological and imaging characteristics of technetium-99m imidodiphosphate (Tc99m-IDP) were measured in 4 horses once and in 1 horse twice. All computational results are expressed with 95.5% (mean +/- 2 SD) confidence limits. The clearance half-time of the radiopharmaceutical from the blood was 29.6 +/- 2.3 min. The percentage of the administered dose circulating in the whole-blood volume at 4 h was 3.9 +/- 0.8%. The Tc99m-IDP radioactivity confined at the plasma fraction of the whole blood at 4 h was 85.3 +/- 1.6%. At 8 h, approximately 45 +/- 16% of the dose administered had been excreted...
Computed tomographic evaluation of head diseases in the horse: 15 cases. The rapid development of software and technology now allows a large amount of diagnostic information to be obtained from a computed tomographic examination. This imaging technique can also be usefully applied to the horse, given appropriate premises and a custom built table for accurate positioning. Computed tomography of the skull has considerable advantages over other techniques, as structures are viewed without superimposition. Fifteen cases are used to demonstrate how through high image quality (precise detail, reduction in artefacts) and objective measurement of density, various pathologi...
Radiographic and arthroscopic findings associated with subchondral lucency of the distal radial carpal bone in 71 horses. Case records and radiographs of 71 horses with subchondral lucency, without radiographic evidence of fracture, located on the distal radial carpal bone were examined retrospectively. All horses had lameness and/or joint effusion referable to the carpus. Distal radial carpal bone subchondral lucency was found as a solitary lesion or as a lesion concurrent and symmetric to a contralateral distal radial carpal bone chip fracture. The lesion appeared radiographically as a lucency or shadow on the distal dorsal margin of the radial carpal bone and was most evident on the flexed lateromedial and dor...
The use of dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry in animals. The use of dual-energy absorptiometry (DXA) to measure bone mineral content (BMC) and bone mineral density (BMD) is widespread in humans and has been adapted to animals because of the need to examine bone and body composition in longitudinal studies. In this review, the indications and techniques for DXA in small-sized animals (rodents, cats, and rabbits) and large-sized animals (dogs, swine, nonhuman primates, sheep, and horses) are discussed. Now that software has been developed for measuring BMD in small laboratory animals, the most frequent use of DXA in animals is in rats. An ultrahigh-re...
Ultrasonographic anatomy of the dorsal and abaxial aspects of the equine fetlock. This paper describes normal ultrasound images of the soft tissues of the dorsal and abaxial aspects of the equine fetlock. The palmar aspect of the fetlock is not discussed because it is related to the suspensory apparatus and flexor tendon anatomy which has been previously described. Ultrasound scanning was performed with 7.5 MHz linear or 10 MHz sector probes and recorded on 7.5 cm U-matic videocassettes allowing further retrospective data analysis, computer manipulation and good image reproducibility. Sagittal, parasagittal, frontal and transverse ultrasound scans of 13 lameness free mature...
[Sonographic diagnosis (B-mode techniques) for the eyes of horses. 2. Pathological cases]. Diagnosis of diseases of the inner eye of horses is problematic, especially in cases where ophthalmoscopic examination is impaired or prevented by cloudiness of the optical apparatus. In addition, examination of retrobulbar affection normally only allows indirect conclusions on localization and extent of alteration. By the use of ultrasound on diseased horse eyes a detailed examination of the inner eye with retrobulbar structures is possible even in these cases. Here, we present several clinical pictures which are difficult or impossible to diagnose by ophthalmoscopical means. For example, son...
Sonographic-anatomic correlation and imaging protocol for the kidneys of horses. Sonographic and anatomic observations were made of the kidneys of 23 Thoroughbreds or Standardbreds. In an in vitro study of 16 horses, precise correlations were established between the gross anatomic features of the kidneys and their sonographic appearance in images obtained in dorsal, sagittal, transverse, and transverse oblique anatomic planes. The renal cortex had a uniformly mottled echogenicity, and the renal medulla was relatively hypoechogenic, compared with the cortex. Acoustic anisotropy was observed in the cortex and medulla of the cranial and caudal extremities of each kidney. The ...
Ultrasound-guided intrafollicular treatment in mares. A technique for intrafollicular treatment with a transvaginal ultrasound-guided injection needle was developed using equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) as the test substance. An injection was made into one growing follicle of a wave when the follicles were 20 to 23 mm. The treated follicles were injected with 1000 iu of eCG in 0.2 ml saline solution and control follicles were injected with 0.2 ml of the saline vehicle (10 mares per group, 1 follicle per mare). The injection system used an inner 25-gauge needle and an outer 20-gauge needle inserted together through the needle-guide channel of ...
[Fertility in mares after disturbed or undisturbed puerperium; evidence from clinical, microbiologic and hormone analysis]. Because of the mare's ability to conceive very soon post partum a thoroughly performed control of the puerperal period is of particular importance. In addition to cytological and histological examinations of the uterus, rectal palpation and vaginoscopic inspection as well as microbiological examinations of uterine swabs and the evaluation of the mare's hormonal status during the puerperal period provide useful information which can be used either prognostically or to initiate a specific therapy. 55 mares were examined on days 3, 6 and 9 post partum. Rectal palpation, vaginoscopic inspection, m...
Ultrasonographic cross-sectional area and mean echogenicity of the superficial and deep digital flexor tendons in 50 trained thoroughbred racehorses. Fifty Thoroughbred horses were examined. All horses had been in race training for a minimum of 4 months before examination and had worked at racing speed; 24 horses had raced. All horses were clinically sound at the time of examination. Ultrasonography was performed, using a 7.5-MHz transducer with built-in fluid offset. Videotaped images of the palmar soft tissue structures were obtained at 4, 8, 12, 16, 20 and 24 cm distal to the base of the accessory carpal bone (DACB). Images were digitized, and each image was calibrated. Values for cross-sectional area (CSA) and mean echogenicity (ME) wer...
Ultrasonography as a method to determine tendon cross-sectional area. Ultrasonographic cross sectional area (CSA) measurements of equine superficial digital flexor (SDF) tendon were obtained to determine the feasibility of ultrasonography for CSA measurement of tendon in vivo and in vitro. Ultrasonographic measurements were compared with a more traditional CSA measurement method, ink-blot analysis. In addition, values for ultrasonographic SDF tendon mean echogenicity were obtained in vivo and in vitro. The left forelimb SDF tendons of 23 horses were evaluated ultrasonographically. Cross sectional images were acquired at 4-cm intervals distal to the base of the a...
Use of intraoperative ultrasonography in six horses. Intraoperative ultrasonography was used in six horses to aid localization and removal of bone fragments (3 horses) and foreign bodies (3 horses). The ultrasound transducer was enclosed in a sterile sleeve containing sterile aqueous gel and the examination was performed after aseptic preparation of the surgical site. Using ultrasound guidance a needle was placed in contact with the bone fragment or foreign body and an incision was made along the path of the needle to expose and remove the object. This technique resulted in decreased operative time and minimal tissue dissection.
Colour flow Doppler echocardiography in normal horses. Colour flow Doppler echocardiography is a technique that is used with two-dimensional (2-D) echocardiography to study blood flow patterns in the heart and blood vessels. This method was used to define normal flow patterns and to evaluate valvular function in 40 clinically normal Thoroughbred and Thoroughbred cross horses. Flow patterns from 10 standardised echocardiographic images were described in relation to anatomic landmarks and timing during the cardiac cycle. Consistent intracardiac flow patterns were identified in the normal horses. High velocity flow signals or regurgitant jets were re...
Echocardiography. Echocardiography encompasses a number of specific imaging techniques. The two-dimensional (2-D) echocardiogram is used to identify lesions of the heart and great vessels, assess myocardial function and provide a template for guiding contrast echocardiography, colour-coded Doppler echocardiography and spectral Doppler studies. M-mode echocardiography is used to measure cardiac size and ventricular function and can be combined with contrast or colour-coded Doppler studies for accurate timing of flow events. Pulsed wave and continuous wave Doppler echocardiography display the direction and veloci...
Echocardiographic measurements of cardiac dimensions and indices of cardiac function in normal adult thoroughbred horses. Cardiac dimensions and indices of cardiac function were measured in 29 clinically normal adult Thoroughbreds (TB) which performed minimal exercise using guided M-mode and two-dimensional (2-D) echocardiography, from a variety of image planes and measurement methods, and standardised imaging planes based on intracardiac anatomical landmarks. The different methods of measuring these variables were compared. The variables which were considered to be most valuable for quantitative echocardiography were measured in a further 9 horses. Comparable measurements of cardiac dimensions can be obtained fr...
Heart murmurs in horses: determining their significance with echocardiography. Physiological flow murmurs occur frequently in horses and may be difficult to distinguish from murmurs associated with underlying cardiac disease. The significance of heart murmurs auscultated in horses is often difficult to determine if the horse is not exhibiting any clinical signs or if the signs, such as poor performance, are nonspecific. A complete echocardiographic examination (M-mode, 2-dimensional (2-D) and Doppler) provides an objective assessment of the severity of the horse's underlying cardiac disease. Valvular regurgitation and ventricular septal defects (VSDs) occur frequently an...
Soft tissue injuries of the tarsus. Contrast radiography provides a clear survey of the size, shape, and location of extratendovaginal fluid-filled cavities, distended bursa, and tendon sheaths and demonstrates intersynovial communication. Ultrasonography effectively demonstrates Achilles tendon injury, slippage of the SDFT off the summit of the calcaneus, assorted ligamentous injuries, and cystic or solid extratendovaginal masses. It will also demonstrate distended bursae and tendon sheaths, but it is not as effective in demonstrating a synovial herniation, or a narrow synovial fistula. Contrast radiography may prove to be the ...
Removal of chip fractures of the femoral trochlear ridges of three horses by arthroscopy. Clinical and radiographic examinations of three horses with histories of trauma and/or wounds to the stifle revealed chip fractures from the medial trochlear ridge of the femur of one of them and from the lateral ridges of the femurs of the others. The joints were evaluated and the fragments of bone were removed by arthroscopy. The results were good in all three horses.
