Multimodal Imaging to Identify and Characterize a P3 Cystic Lesion and Pathologic Fracture.
Abstract: Lameness remains a common cause of retirement in the equine athlete and among hobby enthusiasts. The distal limb is one of the most frequently imaged areas, and recent advances in diagnostic imaging capabilities help practicing veterinarians differentiate normal variants from informative pathology. Although acute, non-weight-bearing lameness is commonly associated with etiologies, such as fractures, abscesses, and laminitis, other uncommon differentials such as cystic lesions and neoplasia might also be considered. This report describes the characterization of a large, cystic lesion in the third phalanx (P3), which resulted in an acute, pathologic fracture. The lesion was fully characterized with the use of postmortem magnetic resonance imaging, gross pathology, and histopathology.
Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2019-12-24 PubMed ID: 32067665DOI: 10.1016/j.jevs.2019.102898Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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The research discusses the development of a method to accurately identify and characterize cystic lesions and pathologic fractures in horses, two relatively uncommon causes of lameness, using postmortem magnetic resonance imaging, gross pathology, and histopathology.
Understanding Equine Lameness
- Lameness is a common problem in horses often leading to early retirement. It’s typically associated with acute, non-weight-bearing conditions such as fractures, abscesses, and laminitis.
- However, this research brings attention to more uncommon causes like cystic lesions and neoplasia that might also be causing lameness in horses.
Cystic Lesion in the Third Phalanx
- The study focuses on the characterization of a large, cystic lesion located in the Third Phalanx (P3), a bone in the foot of the horse.
- This cystic lesion was found to cause an acute, pathologic fracture, lending support to the idea that such uncommon differential diagnoses might also be at play when investigating cases of equine lameness.
Diagnostic Techniques and Findings
- The study utilized postmortem magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to detect and localize the cystic lesion. MRI is often used in veterinary diagnostics for the sensitive detection and precise localization of lesions and pathologies.
- In conjunction with MRI, gross pathology and histopathology were also used. Gross pathology focuses on changes in organs, tissues, and cells visible to the naked eye in diseased states while histopathology involves microscopic examination of sampled tissues to study the manifestations of disease.
- These combined methods allowed for a comprehensive investigation and characterization of the cystic lesion and the associated fracture, thus demonstrating their utility in diagnosing uncommon causes of lameness.
Implications of the Research
- This research suggests that veterinarians should consider these rare types of lesions when facing cases of lameness that do not fit the common causes. A broader diagnostic approach, aided by advanced imaging capabilities, may lead to better diagnosis and treatment plans.
- Monitoring and early detection of such cystic lesions could potentially prevent the development of acute fractures, improving health outcomes for the affected horses.
Cite This Article
APA
Ball AN, Hoaglund EL, Pool R, Barrett MF, Bass LD.
(2019).
Multimodal Imaging to Identify and Characterize a P3 Cystic Lesion and Pathologic Fracture.
J Equine Vet Sci, 86, 102898.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2019.102898 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO.
- Department of Environmental Health and Radiological Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO.
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX.
- Department of Environmental Health and Radiological Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO.
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO. Electronic address: Luke.bass@colostate.edu.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Fractures, Spontaneous / veterinary
- Horse Diseases
- Horses
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging
- Multimodal Imaging
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