CT more accurately detects foreign bodies within the equine foot than MRI or digital radiography.
- Journal Article
Summary
The research article investigates how CT scans are more precise in detecting foreign objects within a horse’s foot compared to MRI or digital radiography.
Objective
The study aims to identify the efficiency of different imaging methods – CT, MRI, and digital radiography (DR) – in detecting foreign bodies embedded within the distal limb of horses.
Methodology
- Fifty foreign bodies of five different materials were embedded in 25 horse cadaver feet.
- Images of these bodies were taken using CT, MRI, and DR.
- Three equine veterinarians, blinded to the materials of the foreign body, reviewed the images and graded the visibility and appearance of the foreign bodies.
- The researchers then calculated the sensitivity (how well the test identifies true positives) and specificity (how well the test identifies true negatives) for each imaging method.
Results
- CT scans had a higher visibility score, sensitivity, and specificity. They were especially efficient in detecting slate, glass, and dry wood.
- Soaked wood and plastic proved difficult to detect using CT scans, with a sensitivity rating of 31-33% due to these materials having similar attenuation.
- Foreign bodies were often visible on MRIs, although the details were unclear.
- On digital radiography, only slate and glass were visible.
- The interrater agreement (the consistency among the veterinarians’ assessments) was nearly perfect for detection of slate, glass, and dry wood on CT scans. The agreement was poor for plastic and soaked wood.
- For MRI and DR testing, interrater agreement was poor for all materials, with the exception of slight agreements with detecting slate on DR and detecting soaked wood on MRI.
Conclusion
The study concludes that CT scans provide a better diagnostic tool when attempting to detect foreign bodies in horses’ feet. CT scans not only more accurately identify foreign bodies but also offer a higher interrater agreement rate amongst veterinarians. However, detecting some materials like soaked wood and plastic remains a challenge to this method.
Cite This Article
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Philip Leverhulme Equine Hospital, University of Liverpool, Neston, UK.
- Philip Leverhulme Equine Hospital, University of Liverpool, Neston, UK.
- Philip Leverhulme Equine Hospital, University of Liverpool, Neston, UK.
- Philip Leverhulme Equine Hospital, University of Liverpool, Neston, UK.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Cadaver
- Foot / diagnostic imaging
- Foot / pathology
- Foreign Bodies / diagnostic imaging
- Foreign Bodies / veterinary
- Horses
- Humans
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging / veterinary
- Prospective Studies
- Radiographic Image Enhancement / methods
- Sensitivity and Specificity
- Tomography, X-Ray Computed / methods
- Tomography, X-Ray Computed / veterinary
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Citations
This article has been cited 1 times.- Inoue K, Yabe S, Kashiwabara S, Itaya Y, Era S, Kikuchi A, Takai Y. A pregnant woman with long-standing, retained intraabdominal glass shards who gave birth to a live infant with no complications: a case report. J Med Case Rep 2024 Feb 25;18(1):74.