Use of a novel helical fan beam imaging system for computed tomography of the head and neck in sedated standing horses: 120 cases (2019-2020).

The research article discusses the use of a new helical fan beam Computed Tomography (CT) system to diagnose medical issues in the head and neck of horses. The study showed that CT can be used safely and effectively, often returning better results than digital radiography.

Study Design

• The study evaluated 120 horses presented for CT scanning of the head or neck at two university hospitals.
• The data collected from these horses included age, sex, breed, presenting complaint, sedation used for imaging, scanning time, procedure time, other diagnostic methods used, imaging diagnosis, clinical diagnosis, and any complications during imaging.

Findings

• The most common breeds examined were Quarter Horses and Warmbloods, and the most frequent complaint was nasal discharge.
• Of the total, 101 horses had their heads scanned. The most common diagnoses were primary dental disease and space-occupying lesions in the paranasal sinuses.
• Nuchal bursitis was the most commonly found issue in the neck region with this CT system.
• The procedure time ranged from 20 to 45 minutes, while the actual scanning time was between 30 to 40 seconds.
• No issues were encountered with sedation, and the horses tolerated the scanning well.

Comparison to Other Imaging Techniques

• The study found that an imaging diagnosis was achieved more frequently with CT (91% of horses) than with planar digital radiography (38% of horses).
• The authors suggest that this CT system, with its quick scanning times, could be used safely as a routine imaging technique for horse teeth and sinus issues.
• However, they noted that the system’s ability to capture images further into the neck region was limited due to the shape of the horse’s neck and thorax.