Correlation between caudal pulmonary artery diameter to body surface area ratio and echocardiography-estimated systolic pulmonary arterial pressure in dogs

Caudal pulmonary artery diameter (CPAD) to body surface area (BSA) ratios were measured in ventrodorsal thoracic radiographs to assess the correlation between CPAD to BSA ratios and systolic pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP) in dogs. Thoracic radiographs of 44 dogs with systolic pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and 55 normal dogs were evaluated. Systolic PAP was estimated by Doppler echocardiography. CPADs were measured at their largest point at the level of tracheal bifurcation on ventrodorsal radiographs. Both right and left CPAD to BSA ratios were significantly higher in the PAH group than in the normal group (p < 0.0001). Linear regression analysis showed positive associations between PAP and right and left CPAD to BSA ratio (right, p = 0.0230; left, p = 0.0012). The receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed that the CPAD to BSA ratio had moderate diagnostic accuracy for detecting PAH. The operating point, sensitivity, specificity, and area under the curve were 28.35, 81.40%, 81.82%, and 0.870; respectively, for the right side and 26.92, 80.00%, 66.67%, and 0.822, respectively, for the left. The significant correlation of CPAD to BSA ratio with echocardiography-estimated systolic PAP supports its use in identifying PAH on survey thoracic radiographs in dogs.

Quantitative CT assessment of bone mineral density in dogs with hyperadrenocorticism

Canine hyperadrenocorticism (HAC) is one of the most common causes of general osteopenia. In this study, quantitative computed tomography (QCT) was used to compare the bone mineral densities (BMD) between 39 normal dogs and 8 dogs with HAC (6 pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism [PDH]; pituitary dependent hyperadrenocorticism, 2 adrenal hyperadrenocorticism [ADH]; adrenal dependent hyperadrenocorticism) diagnosed through hormonal assay. A computed tomogaraphy scan of the 12th thoracic to 7th lumbar vertebra was performed and the region of interest was drawn in each trabecular and cortical bone. Mean Hounsfield unit values were converted to equivalent BMD with bone-density phantom by linear regression analysis. The converted mean trabecular BMDs were significantly lower than those of normal dogs. ADH dogs showed significantly lower BMDs at cortical bone than normal dogs. Mean trabecular BMDs of dogs with PDH using QCT were significantly lower than those of normal dogs, and both mean trabecular and cortical BMDs in dogs with ADH were significantly lower than those of normal dogs. Taken together, these findings indicate that QCT is useful to assess BMD in dogs with HAC.

Oral contrast media for computed tomography of canine pancreas / 대한수의학회지

Barium suspension, oral iodine contrast medium and water were applied in eight dogs to evaluate (1) distension of gastrointestinal tract, (2) the effect of the oral contrast media on the identification of the pancreas from surrounding organs, and (3) image quality and the presence of artifacts in canine pancreas computed tomography (CT) images. Oral iodine contrast medium, gastrografin, produced significant artifacts that deteriorated the CT images of the pancreas. The use of water did not provide the fullness of the gastrointestinal lumens. Barium suspension was effective for the identification of the pancreas from the surrounding gastrointestinal tract, without significantly increasing image noise. Barium suspension can be used as an optimal contrast medium that will not cause an adverse effect on the pancreatic density and image quality.

Computed tomographic evaluation of abdominal fat in minipigs

Computed tomography (CT) exams were conducted to determine the distribution of abdominal fat identified based on the CT number measured in Hounsfield Units (HU) and to measure the volume of the abdominal visceral and subcutaneous fat in minipigs. The relationship between the CT-based fat volumes of several vertebral levels and the entire abdomen and anthropometric data including the sagittal abdominal diameter and waist circumference were evaluated. Moreover, the total fat volumes at the T11, T13, L3, and L5 levels were compared with the total fat volume of the entire abdomen to define the landmark of abdominal fat distribution. Using a single-detector CT, six 6-month-old male minipigs were scanned under general anesthesia. Three radiologists then assessed the HU value of visceral and subcutaneous abdominal fat by drawing the region of interest manually at the T11, T13, L1, L3, and L5 levels. The CT number and abdominal fat determined in this way by the three radiologists was found to be correlated (intra-class coefficient = 0.9). The overall HU ranges for the visceral and subcutaneous fat depots were -147.47 to -83.46 and -131.62 to -90.97, respectively. The total fat volume of the entire abdomen was highly correlated with the volume of abdominal fat at the T13 level (r = 0.97, p < 0.0001). These findings demonstrate that the volume of abdominal adipose tissue measured at the T13 level using CT is a strong and reliable predictor of total abdominal adipose volume.

Assessment of glomerular filtration rate with dynamic computed tomography in normal Beagle dogs

The objective of our study was to determine individual and global glomerular filtration rates (GFRs) using dynamic renal computed tomography (CT) in Beagle dogs. Twenty-four healthy Beagle dogs were included in the experiment. Anesthesia was induced in all dogs by using propofol and isoflurane prior to CT examination. A single slice of the kidney was sequentially scanned after a bolus intravenous injection of contrast material (iohexol, 1 mL/kg, 300 mgI/mL). Time attenuation curves were created and contrast clearance per unit volume was calculated using a Patlak plot analysis. The CT-GFR was then determined based on the conversion of contrast clearance per unit volume to contrast clearance per body weight. At the renal hilum, CT-GFR values per unit renal volume (mL/min/mL) of the right and left kidneys were 0.69 +/- 0.04 and 0.57 +/- 0.05, respectively. No significant differences were found between the weight-adjusted CT-GFRs in either kidney at the same renal hilum (p = 0.747). The average global GFR was 4.21 +/- 0.25 mL/min/kg and the whole kidney GFR was 33.43 +/- 9.20 mL/min. CT-GFR techniques could be a practical way to separately measure GFR in each kidney for clinical and research purposes.

Spectral Doppler ultrasound in the major arteries of normal conscious immature micropigs

Spectral waveform analysis of blood flow velocity in the major arteries of six healthy, conscious immature micropigs was determined using Doppler ultrasonography. Doppler spectral tracings were recorded from the external iliac artery, femoral artery, and renal arcuate artery. Tracings were also taken from three parts of the common carotid artery and two parts of the abdominal aorta. Spectral Doppler parameters included peak systolic velocity, early diastolic velocity, peak systolic velocity-to-end diastolic velocity ratio, resistive index, and pulsatility index. In addition, the diameter of major arteries and indirect blood pressure were measured. These results from spectral Doppler analysis in major arteries may be useful as reference ranges in the future studies of vascular hemodynamics in immature micropigs.

Three-dimensional CT angiography of the canine hepatic vasculature

Eight Beagle dogs were anesthetized and were imaged using a single channel helical CT scanner. The contrast medium used in this study was iohexol (300 mg I/ml) and doses were 0.5 ml/kg for a cine scan, 3 ml/kg for an enhanced scan. The flow rate for contrast material administration was 2 ml/sec for all scans. This study was divided into three steps, with unenhanced, cine and enhanced scans. The enhanced scan was subdivided into the arterial phase and the venous phase. All of the enhanced scans were reconstructed in 1 mm intervals and the scans were interpreted by the use of reformatted images, a cross sectional histogram, maximum intensity projection and shaded surface display. For the cine scans, optimal times were a 9-sec delay time post IV injection in the arterial phase, and an 18-sec delay time post IV injection in the venous phase. A nine-sec delay time was acceptable for the imaging of the canine hepatic arteries by CT angiography. After completion of arterial phase scanning, venous structures of the liver were well visualized as seen on the venous phase.

Osteochondrodysplasia in three Scottish Fold cats

This report explains typical radiographic features ofScottish Fold osteochondrodysplasia. Three Scottish Foldcats suffering from lameness were referred to theVeterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, Seoul NationalUniversity, Korea. Based on the breed predisposition,history, clinical signs, physical examination, and radiographicfindings, Scottish Fold osteochondrodysplasia was confirmedin three cases. Radiographic changes mainly includedexostosis and secondary arthritis around affected jointlesions, and defective conformation in the phalanges andcaudal vertebrae. The oral chondroprotective agents suchas glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate make the patientsalleviate their pain without adverse effects.