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Veterinary radiology & ultrasound : the official journal of the American College of Veterinary Radiology and the International Veterinary Radiology Association2024; doi: 10.1111/vru.13319

Radiation from the equine perineal region is low compared with the elbow and head 24 hours after bone scintigraphic examination.

Abstract: The timing of follow-up radiography and ultrasound in horses that undergo skeletal scintigraphy for lameness investigation varies internationally and between equine hospitals. The prospective, one-group, pretest, posttest study aimed to estimate radiation levels from horses three and 24 h after injection of hydroxydiphosphonate labeled with metastable technetium ( Tc-HDP) and investigate which anatomical locations of the horse had higher radiation levels. Included were 46 horses referred for lameness investigation between June and December 2021. Radiation levels from the horse surface were measured using an electronic device from six anatomical locations (head, elbow, dorsum, ventrum, stifle, and perineum) at two time points and adjusted to three and 24 h after injection of Tc-HDP using the radioactive decay law. The radiation measured was significantly different in the various locations of the horses for both time points. At 3 h after injection of Tc-HDP, the ventrum had the highest radiation dose. At 24 h, the radiation emitted from the perineal region was significantly lower (P < .0001) than from the elbow and head, which had the highest values. There was a negative correlation between age and the radiation detected at 24 h postinjection (P = .02). Radiation from the perineal region was low compared with other regions of the horse 24 h postscintigraphy. Additional care should be taken around the ventrum area during the scintigraphy examination and around the elbow and head at 24 h postscintigraphy to minimize radiation to personnel.
© 2024 The Authors. Veterinary Radiology & Ultrasound published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American College of Veterinary Radiology.
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Publication Date: 2024-01-04 PubMed ID: 38178311DOI: 10.1111/vru.13319Google 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 presented research study focuses on analyzing the levels of radiation in different anatomical locations of horses, following a skeletal scintigraphy to investigate lameness. It discloses that the perineal region emits less radiation compared to other areas like elbow and head within 24 hours after the scintigraphy.

Study Intent and Methodology

  • The research is set up as a prospective, one-group, pretest, posttest study, conducted to measure and compare radiation levels from various parts of a horse’s body after they have been injected with a compound called hydroxydiphosphonate labeled with metastable technetium, known as Tc-HDP.
  • The purpose of this study was to identify which anatomical locations of a horse had higher radiation levels after the injection and to recognize the radiation distribution at two set time points: three hours and 24 hours post-injection.
  • A total of 46 horses undergoing a lameness investigation were chosen to be part of the study which took place from June to December 2021. This is utilized during lameness investigations as it helps to identify inflammation points or possible injured areas in the skeletal structure of horses.

Key Findings

  • The radiation measurements taken at all six anatomical regions of the horses: head, elbow, dorsum, ventrum, stifle, and perineum, indicated significantly different radiation levels across the various locations.
  • The area with the highest radiation emission three hours after injection with Tc-HDP was the ventrum, the underside part of the body of a horse.
  • 24 hours after the injection, the perineal region, the area around the anus and genitals, had significantly lower radiation when compared to the elbow and the head, which recorded the highest values.
  • The research also discerned a negative correlation between the age of a horse and the amount of radiation detected 24 hours after the Tc-HDP injection.

Recommendations and Implications

  • The primary implication of this research is for the personnel involved in the scintigraphy process. Steps should be taken to minimize potential radiation exposure, especially around the ventrum region during the scintigraphy and around the elbow and the head 24 hours post-scintigraphy.
  • Moreover, the study’s findings could influence decisions about the timing of follow-up radiography and ultrasound in horses that undergo skeletal scintigraphy, considering the variations in radiation levels according to time and anatomical position.

Cite This Article

APA
Marcelino L, Falk E, Johansson J, Rydén J, Uhlhorn M, Ley CJ. (2024). Radiation from the equine perineal region is low compared with the elbow and head 24 hours after bone scintigraphic examination. Vet Radiol Ultrasound. https://doi.org/10.1111/vru.13319

Publication

Veterinary radiology & ultrasound : the official journal of the American College of Veterinary Radiology and the International Veterinary Radiology Association
ISSN: 1740-8261
NlmUniqueID: 9209635
Country: England
Language: English

Researcher Affiliations

Marcelino, Leticia
  • Department of Diagnostic Imaging, University Animal Hospital, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.
Falk, Emma
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.
Johansson, Jessica
  • Department of Diagnostic Imaging, University Animal Hospital, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.
Rydén, Jesper
  • Department of Energy and Technology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.
Uhlhorn, Margareta
  • Department of Diagnostic Imaging, University Animal Hospital, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.
Ley, Charles J
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.

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