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Veterinary radiology & ultrasound : the official journal of the American College of Veterinary Radiology and the International Veterinary Radiology Association2021; 62(5); 610-620; doi: 10.1111/vru.13001

18 Fluorine-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography for assessment of deep digital flexor tendinopathy: An exploratory study in eight horses with comparison to CT and MRI.

Abstract: Lesions of the deep digital flexor tendon (DDFT) are a cause for foot lameness in horses. Positron emission tomography (PET) could provide valuable information regarding the metabolic activity of these lesions. The aims of this exploratory, prospective, methods comparison study were to assess the ability of fluorine-fluorodeoxyglucose ( F-FDG) PET to detect DDFT lesions and to compare the PET findings with CT and MRI findings. Eight horses with lameness due to pain localized to the front feet were included. Both front limbs of all horses were imaged with F-FDG PET, noncontrast CT, and arterial contrast-enhanced CT; 11 limbs were also assessed using MRI. Two observers graded independently F-FDG PET, noncontrast CT, arterial contrast CT, T1-weighted (T1-w) MRI, and T2-weighted (T2-w)/STIR MRI. Maximal standardized uptake values were measured. Lesions were found in seven of 16 DDFT on PET, 12 of 16 DDFT on noncontrast CT, six of 15 DDFT on arterial contrast CT, eight of 11 DDFT on T1-w MRI, and six of 11 DDFT on T2-w/STIR MRI. Positron emission tomography was in better agreement with arterial contrast CT (Kappa-weighted 0.40) and T2-w/STIR MRI (0.35) than with noncontrast CT (0.28) and T1-w MRI (0.20). Maximal standardized uptake values of lesions ranged from 1.9 to 4.6 with a median of 3.1. Chronic lesions with scar tissues identified on noncontrast CT or T1-w MRI did not have increased F-FDG uptake. These results demonstrated that F-FDG PET agreed more closely with modalities previously used to detect active tendon lesions, i.e. arterial contrast CT and T2-w/STIR MRI. Fluorine-fluorodeoxyglucose PET can be used to identify metabolically active DDFT lesions in horses.
© 2021 American College of Veterinary Radiology.
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Publication Date: 2021-06-20 PubMed ID: 34148276DOI: 10.1111/vru.13001Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research investigates the use of fluorine-fluorodeoxyglucose (F-FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) for diagnosing deep digital flexor tendon (DDFT) injuries in horses, comparing its efficacy with that of CT and MRI scanning. The results suggest that F-FDG PET aligns more closely with CT and MRI in identifying active tendon lesions, suggesting its potential for detecting such injuries in horses.

Fluorine-Fluorodeoxyglucose (F-FDG) PET

  • The study examined the use of F-FDG PET, a type of nuclear medicine image test, to detect DDFT lesions in horses.
  • The objective was to assess F-FDG PET’s ability to detect these lesions and to compare these findings with the results gathered from computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
  • The researchers used this method due to its potential to provide valuable information regarding the metabolic activity of DDFT lesions.

Study and Findings

  • The study involved eight horses experiencing lameness due to pain localized in the front feet. It used a prospective, explorative approach where all the front limbs of these horses were imaged using three methods: F-FDG PET, noncontrast CT, and arterial contrast-enhanced CT.
  • Two observers independently graded the images obtained from F-FDG PET, noncontrast and arterial contrast CT, and T1-weighted and T2-weighted/STIR MRI. They also measured the maximal standardized uptake values.
  • The findings indicate that while PET discovered lesions in seven out of 16 DDFT, noncontrast CT found lesions in twelve out of 16, arterial contrast CT found six out of 15, T1-weighted MRI found eight out of 11 and T2-weighted/STIR MRI found six out of 11.
  • F-FDG PET agreed more closely with arterial contrast CT and T2-w/STIR MRI in detecting active tendon lesions than with noncontrast CT or T1-weighted MRI. Chronic lesions marked by scar tissues on noncontrast CT or T1-weighted MRI did not display increased F-FDG uptake.
  • These results suggest that F-FDG PET might be a valuable tool in identifying metabolically active DDFT lesions in horses.

Cite This Article

APA
Wilson S, Spriet M, Mur PE, Anishchenko S, Beylin D, Katzman S, Galuppo L. (2021). 18 Fluorine-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography for assessment of deep digital flexor tendinopathy: An exploratory study in eight horses with comparison to CT and MRI. Vet Radiol Ultrasound, 62(5), 610-620. https://doi.org/10.1111/vru.13001

Publication

Veterinary radiology & ultrasound : the official journal of the American College of Veterinary Radiology and the International Veterinary Radiology Association
ISSN: 1740-8261
NlmUniqueID: 9209635
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 62
Issue: 5
Pages: 610-620

Researcher Affiliations

Wilson, Sabrina
  • School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, USA.
Spriet, Mathieu
  • School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, USA.
Mur, Pablo Espinosa
  • School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, USA.
Anishchenko, Sergey
  • LONGMILE Veterinary Imaging, Brain Biosciences Inc., Rockville, Maryland, USA.
Beylin, David
  • LONGMILE Veterinary Imaging, Brain Biosciences Inc., Rockville, Maryland, USA.
Katzman, Scott
  • School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, USA.
Galuppo, Larry
  • School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, USA.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Fluorine
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18
  • Horse Diseases / diagnostic imaging
  • Horses
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / veterinary
  • Positron-Emission Tomography / veterinary
  • Prospective Studies
  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Tendinopathy / veterinary
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed

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Citations

This article has been cited 3 times.
  1. Greco A, Meomartino L, Gnudi G, Brunetti A, Di Giancamillo M. Imaging techniques in veterinary medicine. Part II: Computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, nuclear medicine. Eur J Radiol Open 2023;10:100467.
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  2. Scharf A, Acutt E, Bills K, Werpy N. Magnetic resonance imaging for diagnosing and managing deep digital flexor tendinopathy in equine athletes: Insights, advances and future directions. Equine Vet J 2025 Sep;57(5):1183-1203.
    doi: 10.1111/evj.14508pubmed: 40314097google scholar: lookup
  3. Spriet M, Vandenberghe F. Equine Nuclear Medicine in 2024: Use and Value of Scintigraphy and PET in Equine Lameness Diagnosis. Animals (Basel) 2024 Aug 28;14(17).
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