Preoperative computed tomography imaging for accurate diagnosis and surgical planning in equine cranial disorders: two case reports of congenital malformations.

This study used computed tomography (CT) imaging to accurately diagnose and plan surgeries for two horses with cranial disorders caused by congenital malformations.

Objective of the Research

• The main goal of this research was to demonstrate the effectiveness of CT imaging in diagnosing and planning surgeries for equine cranial disorders. It shared the experiences of using CT imaging technology for two cases of horses suffering from cranial disorders due to congenital malformations. The results confirmed CT imaging’s ability to offer high-resolution, three-dimensional images thus making it superior for assessing complex structures like the equine skull.

Methodology and Cases

• Two horses with cranial disorders were examined using CT imaging. The first horse had a dentigerous cyst, while the second one was suffering from temporohyoid osteoarthropathy.
• In the first case, CT scans confirmed the location of an ectopic tooth within the skull and provided detailed information on a fistula tube. This information was critical in accurate diagnosis and surgical planning.
• In the second case, the CT scan revealed a malformed stylohyoid bone and assumed the horse’s inner ear was filled with soft tissue with calcification. This helped pinpoint the exact surgical intervention required to improve the horse’s condition.

Key Findings

• The diagnosis from the CT imaging in both cases was precise. The information obtained from the CT scans was vital in understanding the exact nature of the cranial disorders and hence plan the surgery accordingly.
• The three-dimensional images provided by CT were beneficial, especially when traditional radiography and endoscopy were insufficient for a definitive diagnosis.
• As such, the paper highlighted the importance of CT imaging in veterinary surgery, in this case for horses, for providing superior visualization of complex structures that may otherwise be challenging to diagnose correctly.