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Equine veterinary journal2020; 52(4); 500-508; doi: 10.1111/evj.13209

External transcutaneous ultrasound technique in the equine cricoarytenoideus dorsalis muscle: Assessment of muscle size and echogenicity with resting endoscopy.

Abstract: Recent studies have assessed the cricoarytenoideus dorsalis muscle (CAD) using transoesophageal ultrasonography in equine recurrent laryngeal neuropathy (RLN). We assessed the CAD using the external transcutaneous ultrasound technique, which may constitute an easier method in horses. Objective: To evaluate ultrasonographic imaging of the left cricoarytenoideus dorsalis muscle (LCAD) and right cricoarytenoideus dorsalis muscle (RCAD) as a diagnostic tool for RLN using the transcutaneous ultrasound technique. Methods: Cross-sectional study. Methods: The axial plane thickness, cross-sectional area and echogenicity of the LCAD and RCAD were measured using transcutaneous ultrasonography in 164 horses. Assessments of LCAD were compared with those of RCAD. The LCAD:RCAD ratios in thickness and area were compared between control horses (resting grades 1 and 2) and horses with resting laryngeal grades 3 and 4 using the Havemeyer 4-point grading system with subgrades. Results: The LCAD:RCAD ratios for thickness and area were 0.69 and 0.66 in horses with resting grades 3 and 4 respectively; LCAD was more hyperechogenic than RCAD in resting grades 3 and 4. LCAD:RCAD ratios for thickness and area in grades 3.II, 3.III and 4 were significantly lower than those in control horses. Thickness and area of the LCAD were negatively correlated with resting laryngeal grade MAIN LIMITATIONS: Overground endoscopy was not performed in this study. There were some differences in methodology: measurement of the physical thickness of the LCAD and clipping of hair at the laryngeal region were only performed in horses that underwent laryngoplasty. Conclusions: Results of ultrasonographic assessments of the CAD using transcutaneous ultrasonography were similar to those obtained by transoesophageal ultrasonography. This technique enables a simple, noninvasive, direct and easy examination. Assessment of the CAD using transcutaneous ultrasonography may be a useful technique and a potential option for determining whether to perform nerve graft or laryngoplasty.
© 2019 EVJ Ltd.
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Publication Date: 2020-02-06 PubMed ID: 31736125DOI: 10.1111/evj.13209Google 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 article presents a study that evaluates using external transcutaneous ultrasound technique as a diagnostic tool for assessing recurrent laryngeal neuropathy (RLN) in horses by observing the cricoarytenoideus dorsalis muscle (CAD).

Objective and Methodology

  • The research aimed to investigate the use of ultrasonographic imaging of the left and right cricoarytenoideus dorsalis muscle (LCAD and RCAD respectively) using the noninvasive transcutaneous ultrasound technique. This approach was proposed as a simpler method than the commonly used transoesophageal ultrasonography.
  • The study was performed on 164 horses, and measurements were taken on the axial plane thickness, cross-sectional area, and echogenicity of the LCAD and RCAD.
  • These measurements were then compared between the two muscles, and the LCAD:RCAD ratios in thickness and area were noted. These values were then compared between control horses and horses diagnosed with RLN.

Results

  • The study found that in horses with RLN, the LCAD:RCAD ratios for thickness and area were lower, implying that the LCAD was more hyperechogenic than RCAD.
  • Furthermore, the thickness and area of the LCAD were found to be negatively correlated with the severity of RLN. In other words, as the severity of RLN increased, the thickness and cross-sectional area of the LCAD (as compared to the RCAD) decreased.

Limitations

  • The study did not involve overground endoscopy, which could potentially have added more depth to the findings.
  • Further, there were slight variations in methodology, such as the physical measurement of LCAD thickness, which was only performed in horses that underwent laryngoplasty, potentially skewing results.

Conclusions

  • Overall, the study concludes that the external transcutaneous ultrasound technique produces comparable results to transoesophageal ultrasonography in assessing RLN in horses.
  • Being noninvasive, simple, and straightforward, this technique can offer a potential option for deciding whether to perform nerve graft or laryngoplasty in horses with RLN.

Cite This Article

APA
Satoh M, Higuchi T, Inoue S, Miyakoshi D, Kajihara A, Gotoh T, Shimizu Y. (2020). External transcutaneous ultrasound technique in the equine cricoarytenoideus dorsalis muscle: Assessment of muscle size and echogenicity with resting endoscopy. Equine Vet J, 52(4), 500-508. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.13209

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 2042-3306
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 52
Issue: 4
Pages: 500-508

Researcher Affiliations

Satoh, Masato
  • Hokkaido South Agricultural Mutual Aid Association, Mitsuishi Animal Medical Center, Hidaka-gun, Hokkaido, Japan.
Higuchi, Tohru
  • Hokkaido South Agricultural Mutual Aid Association, Mitsuishi Animal Medical Center, Hidaka-gun, Hokkaido, Japan.
Inoue, Satoshi
  • Hokkaido South Agricultural Mutual Aid Association, Mitsuishi Animal Medical Center, Hidaka-gun, Hokkaido, Japan.
Miyakoshi, Daisuke
  • Hokkaido South Agricultural Mutual Aid Association, Mitsuishi Animal Medical Center, Hidaka-gun, Hokkaido, Japan.
Kajihara, Ayako
  • Hokkaido South Agricultural Mutual Aid Association, Mitsuishi Animal Medical Center, Hidaka-gun, Hokkaido, Japan.
Gotoh, Tadahiro
  • Federation of Hokkaido Agricultural Mutual Aid Associations, Large Animal Clinic and Research Center, Ebetsu, Hokkaido, Japan.
Shimizu, Yasuhito
  • Hokkaido South Agricultural Mutual Aid Association, Central Animal Clinic, Niikappu-gun, Hokkaido, Japan.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Endoscopy / veterinary
  • Horse Diseases
  • Horses
  • Laryngeal Muscles / diagnostic imaging
  • Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / veterinary
  • Ultrasonography

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Citations

This article has been cited 1 times.
  1. Hardwick JL, Ahern BJ, Crawford KL, Allen KJ, Franklin SH. Yearling laryngeal function in Thoroughbreds that underwent a laryngoplasty differs from controls. Equine Vet J 2025 Mar;57(2):431-440.
    doi: 10.1111/evj.14110pubmed: 38847239google scholar: lookup
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