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Home / Equine Research Bank / Front Vet Sci / Non-contrast enhanced visualization of the equine foot vascu...
Frontiers in veterinary science2025; 12; 1585940; doi: 10.3389/fvets.2025.1585940

Non-contrast enhanced visualization of the equine foot vasculature in a cadaver model using time-of-flight sequence.

Abstract: The objective of this study was to establish a non-contrast enhanced MR angiography (NC-MRA) sequence for the equine foot (EF) using a post-mortem angiography model. Unassigned: Time-of-flight (TOF) sequences were tested using variable parameter settings and 3 slice orientations during vascular perfusion of frozen-thawed cadaver EF with paraffine oil. Transverse and dorsal orientations were planned perpendicular or parallel to the sublamellar vascular plexus at the dorsal aspect of P3, or approximately perpendicular to the coronary plexus. Visibility of the coronary plexus, sublamellar plexus, palmar plexus, terminal arch and its respective branches, solar plexus, and the marginal circumflex vessels was evaluated in a total of 74 sequences. Unassigned: Twelve EF of 10 horses were scanned. Visibility of vessels as small as the sublamellar plexus was best achieved by 3D-TOF sequences in transverse and dorsal orientations with the following parameters: pixel size 0.34 × 0.48 mm, slice thickness 0.2 mm, interslice gap 0.2 mm, TR/TE 21.2/4.7 ms, flip angle 16°, TONE ramp 70%, acquisition time 22.05 min. Only for the sublamellar plexus, the transverse acquisition showed a slightly better visualization than the dorsal acquisition, however the latter could include nearly the entire EF in the field of view with the same acquisition time. Unassigned: 3D-TOF allowed visualization down to at least the sublamellar venous plexus which is reported to have diameters of approximately 0.45 mm. The post-mortem model facilitated establishment of a TOF sequence without the need for experimental animals.
Copyright © 2025 Underberg, Kaessmeyer, Schweizer, Drews and Van der Vekens.
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Publication Date: 2025-07-18 PubMed ID: 40756806PubMed Central: PMC12315915DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2025.1585940Google 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 article is about the use of non-contrast enhanced Magnetic Resonance Angiography (NC-MRA) to visualize the equine foot’s vasculature in a cadaver model. It involves the use of a time-of-flight (TOF) sequence, with variable parameters, to improve the visibility of the equine foot’s vascular structure.

Objective of the Research

  • The study aimed to establish a non-contrast enhanced MR angiography (NC-MRA) for the equine foot using a post-mortem angiography model. This was an effort to allow better visibility and understanding of the internal vascular structure of the equine foot.

Methodology

  • The researchers used time-of-flight (TOF) sequences with varied parameter settings and three different slice orientations during the vascular perfusion of frozen-thawed equine foot cadaver with paraffin oil.
  • The transverse and dorsal orientations were planned to be either perpendicular or parallel to the sublamellar vascular plexus at the dorsal aspect of P3, or approximately perpendicular to the coronary plexus.
  • The team evaluated the visibility of different sections of the equine foot’s vascular structure in a total of 74 sequences, including the coronary plexus, sublamellar plexus, palmar plexus, terminal arch and its respective branches, solar plexus, and the marginal circumflex vessels.

Findings and Conclusions

  • The study involved scanning of twelve equine foot from ten horses. The best visibility of vessels as small as the sublamellar plexus was achieved using 3D-TOF sequences with particular parameters.
  • The researchers found that the transverse acquisition showed slightly better visualization than the dorsal acquisition, especially for the sublamellar plexus. However, the dorsal acquisition could capture nearly the entire equine foot in the field of view with the same acquisition time.
  • The study concluded that the 3D-TOF method allowed visualization down to at least the sublamellar venous plexus, which reportedly has approximate diameters of 0.45 mm.
  • The researchers asserted that their post-mortem model successfully demonstrated a time-of-flight sequence without the need for experimental animals, suggesting that further investigation could be conducted using this non-invasive method.

Cite This Article

APA
Underberg BA, Kaessmeyer S, Schweizer D, Drews B, Van der Vekens E. (2025). Non-contrast enhanced visualization of the equine foot vasculature in a cadaver model using time-of-flight sequence. Front Vet Sci, 12, 1585940. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2025.1585940

Publication

Frontiers in veterinary science
ISSN: 2297-1769
NlmUniqueID: 101666658
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 12
Pages: 1585940
PII: 1585940

Researcher Affiliations

Underberg, Bianca A
  • Division of Clinical Radiology, Department of Clinical Veterinary Science, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
  • Graduate School for Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
Kaessmeyer, Sabine
  • Divison of Veterinary Anatomy, Department of Clinical Research and Veterinary Public Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
Schweizer, Daniela
  • Division of Clinical Radiology, Department of Clinical Veterinary Science, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
Drews, Barbara
  • Divison of Veterinary Anatomy, Department of Clinical Research and Veterinary Public Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
Van der Vekens, Elke
  • Division of Clinical Radiology, Department of Clinical Veterinary Science, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

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