Radiographic, computed tomographic, gross pathological and histological findings with suspected apical infection in 32 equine maxillary cheek teeth (2012-2015).
Abstract: Equine maxillary cheek teeth apical infections are a significant disorder because of frequent spread of infection to the supporting bones. The accuracy of computed tomographic imaging (CT) of this disorder has not been fully assessed. Objective: To compare the radiographic and CT findings in horses diagnosed with maxillary cheek teeth apical infections with pathological findings in the extracted teeth to assess the accuracy of these imaging techniques. Methods: Observational clinical study. Methods: Thirty-two maxillary cheek teeth (in 29 horses) diagnosed with apical infections by clinical, radiographic and principally by CT examinations, were extracted orally. The extracted teeth were subjected to further CT, gross pathological and histological examinations. Four normal teeth extracted from a cadaver served as controls. Results: Pulpar and apical changes highly indicative of maxillary cheek teeth apical infection were present in all 32 teeth on CT, but in just 17/32 teeth (53%) radiographically. Gross pulpar/apical abnormalities and histological pulpar/periapical changes were present in 31/32 (97%) extracted teeth. On CT, one tooth contained small gas pockets in the apical aspect of one pulp and adjacent periodontal space, however no pathological changes were found following its extraction. Conclusions: The study is descriptive and is confined to a small number of cases. Conclusions: This study showed a 97% agreement between CT diagnosis of maxillary cheek teeth apical infection and the presence of pathological changes in the extracted teeth, confirming the diagnostic accuracy of CT compared with radiography for this disorder.
© 2017 EVJ Ltd.
Publication Date: 2017-08-29 PubMed ID: 28772346DOI: 10.1111/evj.12729Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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This research article analyzes the accuracy of computed tomographic (CT) imaging in diagnosing apical infections in equine maxillary cheek teeth. Through comparison of imaging results to findings in extracted teeth, the study found that CT diagnosis agreed strongly with the presence of pathological changes, confirming its diagnostic accuracy over radiography.
Research Objective
- The objective of this research was to evaluate the accuracy of CT Imaging in diagnosing apical infections in equine maxillary cheek teeth. This was achieved by comparing CT imaging results with pathological findings in the extracted teeth. The accuracy of radiographic imaging was also assessed for the same purpose.
Methods
- For this clinical study, 32 maxillary cheek teeth (from 29 horses) suspected to have apical infections were studied. These teeth were diagnosed using clinical, radiographic, and principally CT examinations and were subsequently extracted. The extracted teeth were then analysed using further CT, gross pathological, and histological examinations.
- Four normal teeth extracted from a cadaver were used as controls for comparison.
Results
- All 32 examined teeth showed changes strongly indicative of apical infection in CT imaging. However, only 17 of these 32 teeth (53%) exhibited the same changes in radiographic imaging.
- In terms of gross and histological examination of the extracted teeth, 31 out of 32 teeth (97%) showed abnormalities consistent with maxillary cheek teeth apical infection.
- One tooth showed small gas pockets in the apical aspect of one pulp and adjacent periodontal space in CT image but no pathological changes were found after extraction.
Conclusions
- Despite the study being descriptive and limited by a small number of cases, the results showed a high level of agreement (97%) between CT diagnoses of maxillary cheek teeth apical infection and the presence of pathological changes in the extracted teeth. This strongly supports the diagnostic superiority of CT imaging over radiography for this disorder.
Cite This Article
APA
Liuti T, Smith S, Dixon PM.
(2017).
Radiographic, computed tomographic, gross pathological and histological findings with suspected apical infection in 32 equine maxillary cheek teeth (2012-2015).
Equine Vet J, 50(1), 41-47.
https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.12729 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and The Roslin Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Roslin, UK.
- Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and The Roslin Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Roslin, UK.
- Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and The Roslin Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Roslin, UK.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Horse Diseases / diagnostic imaging
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horses
- Radiography
- Tomography, X-Ray Computed
- Tooth / diagnostic imaging
- Tooth / pathology
- Tooth Diseases / diagnostic imaging
- Tooth Diseases / pathology
- Tooth Diseases / veterinary
Citations
This article has been cited 14 times.- Górski K, Borowska M, Turek B, Pawlikowski M, Jankowski K, Bereznowski A, Polkowska I, Domino M. An application of the density standard and scaled-pixel-counting protocol to assess the radiodensity of equine incisor teeth affected by resorption and hypercementosis: preliminary advancement in dental radiography. BMC Vet Res 2023 Aug 9;19(1):116.
- Kloock T, Hellige M, Kloock A, Feige K, Niebuhr T. Impact of Different Diagnostic Procedures on Diagnosis, Therapy, and Outcome in Horses with Headshaking: Recommendations for Fast-Track Advanced Diagnostic and Therapeutic Protocols. Animals (Basel) 2022 Nov 13;12(22).
- Bishop IT. Diagnostic value of full-mouth radiography in horses. Front Vet Sci 2022;9:971886.
- Górski K, Borowska M, Stefanik E, Polkowska I, Turek B, Bereznowski A, Domino M. Selection of Filtering and Image Texture Analysis in the Radiographic Images Processing of Horses' Incisor Teeth Affected by the EOTRH Syndrome. Sensors (Basel) 2022 Apr 11;22(8).
- Stieger-Vanegas SM, Hanna AL. The Role of Computed Tomography in Imaging Non-neurologic Disorders of the Head in Equine Patients. Front Vet Sci 2022;9:798216.
- Kau S, Mansfeld MD, Šoba A, Zwick T, Staszyk C. The facultative human oral pathogen Prevotella histicola in equine cheek tooth apical/ periapical infection: a case report. BMC Vet Res 2021 Oct 30;17(1):343.
- Dixon PM, Barnett TP, Morgan RE, Reardon RJM. Computed Tomographic Assessment of Individual Paranasal Sinus Compartment and Nasal Conchal Bulla Involvement in 300 Cases of Equine Sinonasal Disease. Front Vet Sci 2020;7:580356.
- Dixon PM, Puidupin C, Borkent D, Liuti T, Reardon RJM. A Computed Tomographic Assessment of Osteitis of Sinus Bony Structures in Horses With Sinonasal Disorders. Front Vet Sci 2020;7:627.
- Horbal A, Smith S, Dixon PM. A Computed Tomographic and Pathological Study of Equine Cheek Teeth Infundibulae Extracted From Asymptomatic Horses. Part 2: MicroCT, Gross, and Histological Findings. Front Vet Sci 2019;6:125.
- Horbal A, Smith S, Dixon PM. A Computed Tomographic (CT) and Pathological Study of Equine Cheek Teeth Infundibulae Extracted From Asymptomatic Horses. Part 1: Prevalence, Type and Location of Infundibular Lesions on CT Imaging. Front Vet Sci 2019;6:124.
- Liuti T, Smith S, Dixon PM. A Comparison of Computed Tomographic, Radiographic, Gross and Histological, Dental, and Alveolar Findings in 30 Abnormal Cheek Teeth from Equine Cadavers. Front Vet Sci 2017;4:236.
- Hardefeldt L, Thomas K, Page S, Norris J, Browning G, El Hage C, Stewart A, Gilkerson J, Muscatello G, Verwilghen D, van Galen G, Bauquier J, Cuming R, Reynolds B, Whittaker C, Wilkes E, Clulow J, Burden C, Begg L. Antimicrobial prescribing guidelines for horses in Australia. Aust Vet J 2025 Dec;103(12):781-889.
- Korsós SA, Staszyk C, Boone M, Josipovic I, Vogelsberg J, Vlaminck L. Micro-CT and histological examination of accessory canals in 34 equine cheek teeth. Front Vet Sci 2024;11:1396871.
- Borowska M, Jasiński T, Gierasimiuk S, Pauk J, Turek B, Górski K, Domino M. Three-Dimensional Segmentation Assisted with Clustering Analysis for Surface and Volume Measurements of Equine Incisor in Multidetector Computed Tomography Data Sets. Sensors (Basel) 2023 Nov 2;23(21).
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