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Veterinary radiology & ultrasound : the official journal of the American College of Veterinary Radiology and the International Veterinary Radiology Association2021; 63(1); 54-63; doi: 10.1111/vru.13028

A threshold volume of 10 ml is suggested for detecting articular cartilage defects in equine carpal joints using CT arthrography: Ex vivo pilot study.

Abstract: Computed tomographic arthrography (CTA) has been described as a method for detecting articular cartilage defects in equine carpal joints; however, published studies on the effects of contrast volume for lesion detection are currently lacking. The purpose of this prospective, experimental, pilot study was to determine a threshold volume of iodinated contrast for CTA of the antebrachiocarpal (ABC) and middle carpal (MC) joints for detection of articular cartilage surface defects. Articular cartilage defects were iatrogenically created in the surfaces of the ABC and MC joints of 20 equine cadaver limbs using arthroscopy. Unaltered articular surfaces within some joints acted as controls. Joints were imaged precontrast using multidetector CT. The ABC and MC joints were injected with a 150 mg iodine/ml nonionic contrast medium, in 5 ml increments from 5 to 50 ml per joint with CT performed subsequent to each increment. Cartilage defects were measured grossly using a caliper. Detection (qualitative) and measurement (quantitative) of the defects were independently performed by two board-certified radiologists using medical imaging software. At each volume of contrast, the interrater reliability for gross examination and the two observers in the detection of a defect was calculated (Gwet's AC1). Logistic mixed-effects models of selected volumes, 0, 5, 10, 15, and 50 ml, demonstrated that at 10 ml contrast and above, no statistically significant difference between either observer and gross examination for defect detection was identified for either joint. Findings supported using a dose of 10 ml for 150 mg iodine/ml concentration contrast media when performing CTA of equine carpal joints.
© 2021 The Authors. Veterinary Radiology & Ultrasound published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American College of Veterinary Radiology.
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Publication Date: 2021-10-20 PubMed ID: 34672041DOI: 10.1111/vru.13028Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

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.

The research study aimed to determine the minimum volume of iodinated contrast required for the effective detection of articular cartilage defects in equine carpal joints using Computed Tomographic Arthrography (CTA). The results indicated a threshold volume of 10 ml, above which no significant improvement in defect detection was noticed.

Research Methodology

  • The researchers used 20 equine cadaver limbs for this pilot study. They artificially induced articular cartilage defects in the antebrachiocarpal (ABC) and middle carpal (MC) joints using arthroscopy. Some of the articular surfaces were left unmodified to serve as the control group.
  • The researchers used multidetector CT to image the joints before adding any contrast.
  • The ABC and MC joints were then injected with 5 ml increments of a nonionic contrast medium (containing 150 mg iodine/ml), ranging from 5 to 50 ml per joint. A CT scan was performed after each increment.
  • The artificially induced cartilage defects were then measured grossly using a caliper.

Analysis and Results

  • Two independent, board-certified radiologists performed the detection (qualitative) and measurement (quantitative) of the defects using medical imaging software.
  • The interrater reliability for both observers and gross examination was calculated at each volume of contrast to assess consistency.
  • The study used logistic mixed-effects models of selected volumes (0, 5, 10, 15, and 50 ml) to identify trends and patterns.
  • The results demonstrated that at a contrast of 10 ml and above, there was no statistically significant difference between either observer and the gross examination in terms of defect detection.

Conclusion

  • The findings suggest that a dose of 10 ml for 150 mg iodine/ml concentration contrast media is sufficient when performing CTA of equine carpal joints, as there is no significant improvement in defect detection beyond this volume.

This study provides a practical guideline for equine cartilage imaging and paves the way for efficient use of contrast agents. However, as this is a pilot study, further research might be necessary to validate and extend these findings.

Cite This Article

APA
McQuillan S, Kearney C, Hoey S, Connolly S, Rowan C. (2021). A threshold volume of 10 ml is suggested for detecting articular cartilage defects in equine carpal joints using CT arthrography: Ex vivo pilot study. Vet Radiol Ultrasound, 63(1), 54-63. https://doi.org/10.1111/vru.13028

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: 63
Issue: 1
Pages: 54-63

Researcher Affiliations

McQuillan, Siobhan
  • School of Veterinary Medicine, UCD Veterinary Hospital, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
Kearney, Clodagh
  • School of Veterinary Medicine, UCD Veterinary Hospital, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
Hoey, Seamus
  • School of Veterinary Medicine, UCD Veterinary Hospital, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
Connolly, Susan
  • School of Computer Science and Statistics, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
Rowan, Conor
  • School of Veterinary Medicine, UCD Veterinary Hospital, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
  • Diagnostic Imaging, Vetmeduni Vienna, Vienna, Austria.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Arthrography / veterinary
  • Carpal Joints / diagnostic imaging
  • Cartilage, Articular / diagnostic imaging
  • Horses
  • Pilot Projects
  • Prospective Studies
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed / veterinary

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Citations

This article has been cited 1 times.
  1. Bolz NM, Sánchez-Andrade JS, Torgerson PR, Bischofberger AS. Diagnostic Performance of Multi-Detector Computed Tomography Arthrography and 3-Tesla Magnetic Resonance Imaging to Diagnose Experimentally Created Articular Cartilage Lesions in Equine Cadaver Stifles. Animals (Basel) 2023 Jul 14;13(14).
    doi: 10.3390/ani13142304pubmed: 37508081google scholar: lookup
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