Qualitative and quantitative interpretation of computed tomography of the lungs in healthy neonatal foals.
Abstract: To qualitatively describe lung CT images obtained from sedated healthy equine neonates (≤ 14 days of age), use quantitative analysis of CT images to characterize attenuation and distribution of gas and tissue volumes within the lungs, and identify differences between lung characteristics of foals ≤ 7 days of age and foals > 7 days of age. Methods: 10 Standardbred foals between 2.5 and 13 days of age. Methods: Foals were sedated with butorphanol, midazolam, and propofol and positioned in sternal recumbency for thoracic CT. Image analysis software was used to exclude lung from nonlung structures. Lung attenuation was measured in Hounsfield units (HU) for analysis of whole lung and regional changes in attenuation and lung gas and tissue components. Degree of lung attenuation was classified as follows: hyperinflated or emphysema, -1,000 to -901 HU; well aerated, -900 to -501 HU; poorly aerated, -500 to -101 HU; and nonaerated, > -100 HU. Results: Qualitative evidence of an increase in lung attenuation and patchy alveolar patterns in the ventral lung region were more pronounced in foals ≤ 7 days of age than in older foals. Quantitative analysis revealed that mean ± SD lung attenuation was greater in foals ≤ 7 days of age (-442 ± 28 HU) than in foals > 7 days of age (-521 ± 24 HU). Lung aeration and gas volumes were lower than in other regions ventrally and in the mid lung region caudal to the heart. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE-Identified radiographic patterns and changes in attenuation were most consistent with atelectasis and appeared more severe in foals ≤ 7 days of age than in older neonatal foals. Recognition of these changes may have implications for accurate CT interpretation in sedated neonatal foals with pulmonary disease.
Publication Date: 2013-08-28 PubMed ID: 23977897DOI: 10.2460/ajvr.74.9.1239Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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This research article explores and describes the lung CT images from healthy newborn foal horses that are a maximum of 14 days old, using detailed analysis to characterize how gas and tissues are distributed in the lungs. There is an emphasis on understanding how the lung characteristics of foals can change within their first two weeks, particularly between those that are 7 days of age or less and those that are older.
Research Methods
- For experimentation, 10 Standardbred foals aged between 2.5 and 13 days were used. The foals were sedated with a mix of butorphanol, midazolam, and propofol medication.
- They were positioned in sternal recumbency (lying on their chest) for the thoracic CT imaging to take place.
- To help the researchers focus on the lungs, they used image analysis software to remove non-lung structures from the imaging data.
- The level of lung attenuation or blockage preventing X-rays from passing through was measured in Hounsfield units (HU). This measurement of toxicity allowed the researchers to study whole lung and regional changes in attenuation and lung gas and tissue components in detail.
- The degree of lung attenuation was grouped as follows: -1,000 to -901 HU for hyperinflated or emphysema, -900 to -501 HU for well aerated, -500 to -101 HU for poorly aerated, and greater than -100 HU for non-aerated lungs.
Research Findings
- Upon qualitative examination, the researchers discovered an increase in lung attenuation and observed patchy patterns in the alveoli of the ventral lung region that was more noticeable in foals aged 7 days or less compared to older foals.
- Quantitative analysis showed that the average lung attenuation was higher in foals aged 7 days or less (-442 ± 28 HU) than it was in foals aged over 7 days (-521 ± 24 HU).
- The quantity of aeration and gas volumes were confirmed to be lower in the ventral regions and in the mid lung region situated behind the heart.
- The identified radiographic patterns and changes in attenuation were most in line with those seen in atelectasis – a condition where the lung collapses or gets filled with fluid. This seemed more severe in foals that were newly born (aged 7 days or less) than in slightly older neonatal foals.
Clinical Relevance and Conclusion
- The identification of these specific changes may hold potential implications for the accurate interpretation of CT scans in sedated newborn foals that have developed pulmonary disease.
- Being able to read these changes effectively can enable early diagnosis and provide more effective treatment for these neonatal foals.
Cite This Article
APA
Lascola KM, O'Brien RT, Wilkins PA, Clark-Price SC, Hartman SK, Mitchell MA.
(2013).
Qualitative and quantitative interpretation of computed tomography of the lungs in healthy neonatal foals.
Am J Vet Res, 74(9), 1239-1246.
https://doi.org/10.2460/ajvr.74.9.1239 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61802, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Animals, Newborn / physiology
- Female
- Horses / physiology
- Image Processing, Computer-Assisted
- Lung / diagnostic imaging
- Lung / physiology
- Male
- Tomography, X-Ray Computed / veterinary
Citations
This article has been cited 7 times.- Anam C, Amilia R, Naufal A, Sutanto H, Dwihapsari Y, Fujibuchi T, Dougherty G. Impact of Noise Level on the Accuracy of Automated Measurement of CT Number Linearity on ACR CT and Computational Phantoms. J Biomed Phys Eng 2023 Aug;13(4):353-362.
- Raidal SL, Catanchin M, Sacks M, Carstens A, Quinn C, Mosing M. Effects of 2 modes of positive pressure ventilation on respiratory mechanics and gas exchange in foals. J Vet Intern Med 2023 May-Jun;37(3):1233-1242.
- Sacks M, Raidal S, Catanchin CSM, Hosgood G, Mosing M. Impact of sedation, body position change and continuous positive airway pressure on distribution of ventilation in healthy foals. Front Vet Sci 2022;9:1075791.
- Arencibia A, Corbera JA, Ramírez G, Díaz-Bertrana ML, Pitti L, Morales M, Jaber JR. Anatomical Assessment of the Thorax in the Neonatal Foal Using Computed Tomography Angiography, Sectional Anatomy, and Gross Dissections. Animals (Basel) 2020 Jun 17;10(6).
- I S, C A, H S, P T, T F. Comparisons of Hounsfield Unit Linearity between Images Reconstructed using an Adaptive Iterative Dose Reduction (AIDR) and a Filter Back-Projection (FBP) Techniques. J Biomed Phys Eng 2020 Apr;10(2):215-224.
- Fowler J, Stieger-Vanegas SM, Vanegas JA, Bobe G, Poulsen KP. Comparison of Thoracic Radiography and Computed Tomography in Calves with Naturally Occurring Respiratory Disease. Front Vet Sci 2017;4:101.
- Sprayberry KA. Ultrasonographic Examination of the Equine Neonate: Thorax and Abdomen. Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract 2015 Dec;31(3):515-43.
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