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Home / Equine Research Bank / Equine Vet J / Diagnostic utility of computed tomography imaging in equine ...
Equine veterinary journal2010; 42(5); 393-399; doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2010.00086.x

Diagnostic utility of computed tomography imaging in equine intracranial conditions.

Abstract: The use of computer tomography (CT) and contrast-enhanced CT (CCT) to image the head is common. However, the validity of CT as a neurodiagnostic indicator of intracranial diseases in horses is unknown. Objective: To define the validity of CT and CCT in horses with suspected intracranial disorders. Methods: The validity of CT imaging was estimated by comparing clinical, clinicopathological and histopathological findings to CT findings in 15 horses presented for intracranial disorders, for which pre- and post contrast CT images and post mortem examination of the brain and skull were reviewed. Post mortem examination (gross and histopathological examination) was considered as the gold standard; and sensitivity, specificity, predictive values, likelihood ratios, and pre- and post test probabilities were calculated. Results: All horses had abnormal neurological examinations on admission. Computer tomography imaging identified intracranial lesions in 8 horses, and included masses (oligodendroglioma, adenocarcinoma and cholesterinic granulomas), acute haemorrhage and skull fractures. Computer tomography imaging failed to identify intracranial lesions in 6 cases, which included meningitis, meningoencephalitis and nonacute haemorrhage. Lesions not recognised by CT were also not evident on gross examination but were identified by histopathological examination of the brain. Post mortem examination of the brain and skull was unremarkable in one horse, for which cranial CT imaging was normal (specificity, 100%). Therefore, the odds of having an intracranial lesion after an abnormal CT were very high. In contrast, there was a moderate sensitivity (57.1%, 95% confidence interval: 29.6-81.2). Conclusions: CT was an excellent neurodiagnostic tool in identifying skull fractures, intracranial space-occupying lesions (e.g. neoplasia) and acute haemorrhage and allows to rule in intracranial disorders. However, CT showed limited sensitivity in identifying inflammatory disorders and small parenchymal lesions in the equine brain, which was not further detectable after contrast administration.
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Publication Date: 2010-07-20 PubMed ID: 20636774DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2010.00086.xGoogle 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.

This research investigates the effectiveness of Computer Tomography (CT) imaging in diagnosing intracranial (inside the skull) conditions in horses. The study concluded that while CT imaging is remarkably effective at identifying certain conditions like skull fractures and tumors, it has restricted success in identifying smaller, less common conditions like inflammation and small brain lesions.

Research Methodology

  • The study compared clinical, clinicopathological, and histopathological findings with CT findings in 15 horses presented for intracranial disorders.
  • Each horse underwent both pre- and post-contrast CT images.
  • Following imaging, a post-mortem examination of the brain and skull was conducted. This post-mortem exam was considered the “gold standard” or most definitive diagnostic technique.
  • All of these tests were then reviewed, and statistical measures like sensitivity, specificity, predictive values, likelihood ratios, and pre- and post-test probabilities were calculated for assessing the performance of CT scan.

Research Results

  • All the horses exhibited abnormal neurological examinations on admission.
  • CT imaging identified intracranial lesions (abnormal tissues) in 8 of the horses, including tumors, acute haemorrhage, and skull fractures.
  • CT failed to identify intracranial conditions in 6 cases, which included meningitis, meningoencephalitis, and nonacute haemorrhage.
  • The anomalies not recognized by CT were however evident on histopathological examination of the brain.
  • In one case, both the CT imaging and post-mortem examination tests showed no signs of an intracranial disorder, indicating a 100% specificity.

Study Conclusion

  • The research concluded that CT imaging is an excellent diagnostic tool for detecting skull fractures, tumors, and acute hemorrhages in horses.
  • Despite its effectiveness in detecting these conditions, CT imaging showed limited sensitivity for identifying inflammatory disorders and small lesions in the equine brain, even with the use of contrast enhancement.

Cite This Article

APA
Lacombe VA, Sogaro-Robinson C, Reed SM. (2010). Diagnostic utility of computed tomography imaging in equine intracranial conditions. Equine Vet J, 42(5), 393-399. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.2010.00086.x

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 0425-1644
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 42
Issue: 5
Pages: 393-399

Researcher Affiliations

Lacombe, V A
  • College of Pharmacy and Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, USA.
Sogaro-Robinson, C
    Reed, S M

      MeSH Terms

      • Animals
      • Brain Diseases / diagnosis
      • Brain Diseases / diagnostic imaging
      • Brain Diseases / veterinary
      • Contrast Media
      • Female
      • Horse Diseases / diagnosis
      • Horse Diseases / diagnostic imaging
      • Horses
      • Male
      • Predictive Value of Tests
      • Tomography, X-Ray Computed / veterinary

      Citations

      This article has been cited 12 times.
      1. Frey K, Perlini M, Reed R. Time Attenuation Curves for Equine Intravenous Contrast Enhanced Skull CT Using the Medial Saphenous and Cephalic Veins. Vet Radiol Ultrasound 2026 Jan;67(1):e70115.
        doi: 10.1111/vru.70115pubmed: 41358792google scholar: lookup
      2. Lloyd-Edwards RA, Mulders E, Sloet van Oldruitenborgh-Oosterbaan MM, Veraa S. Computed Tomography of the Hyoid Apparatus in Equine Headshaking Syndrome. Vet Sci 2025 May 23;12(6).
        doi: 10.3390/vetsci12060511pubmed: 40559747google scholar: lookup
      3. Holz N, Suárez J, Hetzel U, Rampazzo A, Stoppini R. Mycotic Sphenopalatine Sinusitis With Concurrent Compression of the Optic Nerves and Chiasm and Severe Visual Impairment in A Horse. Vet Ophthalmol 2026 Jan;29(1):e70003.
        doi: 10.1111/vop.70003pubmed: 40055139google scholar: lookup
      4. Palmisano M, Bender S, Johnson AL. Intracranial medulloblastoma as the cause of progressive ataxia in a 6-month-old draft horse cross gelding. J Vet Intern Med 2023 Jan;37(1):361-365.
        doi: 10.1111/jvim.16592pubmed: 36433686google scholar: lookup
      5. Stieger-Vanegas SM, Hanna AL. The Role of Computed Tomography in Imaging Non-neurologic Disorders of the Head in Equine Patients. Front Vet Sci 2022;9:798216.
        doi: 10.3389/fvets.2022.798216pubmed: 35321060google scholar: lookup
      6. Lloyd-Edwards RA, Willems DS, Beukers M, van den Brom-Spierenburg A, Vernooij JCM, Veraa S. Presumed cholesterinic granulomas detected on CT in horses are associated with increased lateral ventricle height and age. Vet Radiol Ultrasound 2020 May;61(3):269-278.
        doi: 10.1111/vru.12847pubmed: 32020759google scholar: lookup
      7. Easton-Jones C, Woolard K, Mohr FC, Roy MA, Aleman M. Ganglioglioma of the Right Cerebrothalamus in a 7-Year-Old Quarter Horse Cross Gelding. Front Vet Sci 2019;6:356.
        doi: 10.3389/fvets.2019.00356pubmed: 31696122google scholar: lookup
      8. Lacombe VA. Seizures in horses: diagnosis and classification. Vet Med (Auckl) 2015;6:301-308.
        doi: 10.2147/VMRR.S62078pubmed: 30101115google scholar: lookup
      9. Crijns CP, Baeumlin Y, De Rycke L, Broeckx BJ, Vlaminck L, Bergman EH, van Bree H, Gielen I. Intra-arterial versus intra venous contrast-enhanced computed tomography of the equine head. BMC Vet Res 2016 Jan 7;12:6.
        doi: 10.1186/s12917-016-0632-9pubmed: 26739315google scholar: lookup
      10. Henneke C, Jespersen A, Jacobsen S, Nielsen MK, McEvoy F, Jensen HE. The distribution pattern of Halicephalobus gingivalis in a horse is suggestive of a haematogenous spread of the nematode. Acta Vet Scand 2014 Sep 19;56(1):56.
        doi: 10.1186/s13028-014-0056-0pubmed: 25233889google scholar: lookup
      11. Ives EJ, Rousset N, Heliczer N, Herrtage ME, Vanhaesebrouck AE. Exclusion of a brain lesion: is intravenous contrast administration required after normal precontrast magnetic resonance imaging?. J Vet Intern Med 2014 Mar-Apr;28(2):522-8.
        doi: 10.1111/jvim.12300pubmed: 24467361google scholar: lookup
      12. Devilbiss B, Neelis D, Ochoa J, Ziegler J, Barrington G, Allen A. Computed tomography findings in a 5-year-old Australian Cashmere goat (Capra hircus) suffering leukoencephalomyelitis due to caprine arthritis encephalitis virus. Can Vet J 2013 Oct;54(10):960-4.
        pubmed: 24155416
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