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Acta veterinaria Scandinavica2012; 54(1); 38; doi: 10.1186/1751-0147-54-38

Evaluation of a positioning method for equine lateral stifle scintigrams.

Abstract: The current lack of a standardized protocol for positioning of the gamma camera relative to the horse limb in a lateral stifle scintigram, and thus the reliance on subjective positioning, may be a cause of diagnostic error and inter-operator variability due to variations of the view angle. The aims of this study were to develop a reliable method to obtain a lateral scintigram of the equine stifle based on fixed anatomical landmarks and measure the resulting foot to gamma camera angle on sequential measurements of the same horse and of different horses Methods: Technetium filled capsules were glued on the skin on sites adjacent to the origin of the medial and lateral femorotibial collateral ligaments in 22 horses using ultrasound guidance. A lateral view of the stifle was defined as the image where the two radioactive point sources were aligned vertically (point sources guided method). Five sequential lateral acquisitions (one to five) of the stifle with the point sources vertically aligned were acquired in each horse, and the angle between the mid-sagittal foot-axis and the vertical axis of the gamma camera (FC angle) was measured for each of these acquisitions Results: For acquisition group one to five, the mean of the means FC angle was 91.6 ± 2° (2SD) and the coefficient of variation (COV) was 1.1%. In the 22 horses the 95% CI for the mean FC angles was 91.6° ± 12.1° (2SD) and the COV was 6.6%. Conclusions: The use of point sources to guide gamma camera position results in less variation in the lateral scintigram than if the distal limb is used as guidance due to a difference in FC angle between horses. The point source guided positioning method is considered suitable as a reference standard method to obtain lateral scintigrams of the equine stifle, and it will be of value in clinical scintigraphy and research. The use of alignment of specifically located point sources may also be applied in other regions to standardize scintigraphic views.
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Publication Date: 2012-06-15 PubMed ID: 22703542PubMed Central: PMC3502362DOI: 10.1186/1751-0147-54-38Google 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.

The research focuses on proposing a reliable method for capturing specific images (scintigrams) of a horse’s stifle joint (similar to a human knee), to address inconsistencies in diagnosis due to unstandardized positioning of the gamma camera. They utilized Technetium filled capsules as fixed anatomical marks and aligned the gamma camera accordingly. Results showed that this method resulted in less variation across different acquisitions and different horses.

Objective of the Research

  • The research aimed to address problems arising from the absence of a standard procedure for positioning the gamma camera in equine stifle scintigraphy (a diagnostic imaging technique). The variability that subjective positioning introduces can cause diagnostic errors and inconsistencies among operators.
  • The researchers sought to establish a reliable method for obtaining lateral scintigrams of the equine stifle, employing fixed anatomical landmarks for consistent positioning of the gamma camera.

Methodology

  • Involving 22 horses, the researchers attached Technetium-filled capsules to the skin around the medial and lateral femorotibial collateral ligaments. Ultrasound guidance ensured the accurate positioning of these point sources.
  • The lateral view of the stifle was defined by an image where the two radioactive point sources, detected by the gamma camera, were vertically aligned.
  • Five sequential lateral acquisitions were obtained for each horse, with each acquisition maintaining the vertical alignment of the point sources.

Results

  • The study found little variation in the foot-to-camera angle (FC angle) on successive acquisitions for each horse.
  • Thus, the researchers determined that the use of point sources to guide camera positioning leads to less variation in stifle scintigrams than when guidance relies on the distal limb, given the differing FC angles among horses.

Conclusions and Implications

  • Based on their results, the researchers concluded that this method of using alignment of specifically located point sources is suitable as a reference standard. It should improve the quality and consistency of lateral scintigrams of the equine stifle, and could be applied across clinical scintigraphy and research disciplines.
  • Moreover, the team indicated that this approach could be used in imaging other anatomical regions, enhancing the standardization of scintigraphic views.

Cite This Article

APA
Grapperon Mathis M, Ley C, Berger M, Hansson K. (2012). Evaluation of a positioning method for equine lateral stifle scintigrams. Acta Vet Scand, 54(1), 38. https://doi.org/10.1186/1751-0147-54-38

Publication

Acta veterinaria Scandinavica
ISSN: 1751-0147
NlmUniqueID: 0370400
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 54
Issue: 1
Pages: 38

Researcher Affiliations

Grapperon Mathis, Marion
  • Section of Diagnostic Imaging, University Animal Hospital Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden. mgrapperon@yahoo.fr
Ley, Charles
    Berger, Mieth
      Hansson, Kerstin

        MeSH Terms

        • Animals
        • Female
        • Gamma Cameras / veterinary
        • Horses
        • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted
        • Male
        • Radiography
        • Radionuclide Imaging / instrumentation
        • Radionuclide Imaging / methods
        • Radionuclide Imaging / veterinary
        • Reproducibility of Results
        • Stifle / anatomy & histology
        • Stifle / diagnostic imaging

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