Contrast enhancement in magnetic resonance imaging using intravenous paramagnetic contrast media: a review.

Interest in magnetic resonance (MR) imaging as a major diagnostic tool in veterinary clinical medicine is increasing. Most MR studies are performed with the use of contrast enhancement via intravenous injection of paramagnetic gadolinium-containing contrast media. A vast number of publications are available regarding the use of contrast media in humans. The purpose of this paper is to assist practicing veterinary radiologists in understanding mechanisms of MR contrast enhancement. This paper reviews certain aspects of MR contrast enhancement, including physical, chemical and biologic characteristics of most common MR contrast media targeted primarily at the central nervous system (CNS). Authors also describe processes that explain changes in signal intensity on the MR images.

Computed axial tomography of the porcine nasal cavity and a morphometric comparison of the nasal turbinates with other visualization techniques.

A non-invasive imaging modality, computed tomography (CT), was used to visualize changes in nasal turbinates of anesthetized pigs over a 12-week observation period (pigs were 14 wk of age at study week 0). Normal, non-infected pigs were compared to pigs with mild challenge-induced atrophic rhinitis (AR) in order to detect subtle differences in morphology. To determine feasibility for time course studies in future experiments, morphometric quantitation at the level of the 2nd premolar (turbinate area ratio or TAR) in cross-section CT images at multiple timepoints was done. Additionally, at study termination, the TAR determined from CT images, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and wet tissue (WT), were compared to each other and to the standard subjective measure, visual scoring. There were no statistically significant differences between the control and AR groups at CT imaging dates of 0, 3, 6, 9, or 12 wk (P = 0.182). However, a statistically significant decrease in TAR measurements over time (P = 0.015) was observed in both groups, with lower mean values observed on Weeks 3 and 6 before rebounding to baseline values at study termination. At Week 12 (termination of the study), the TAR measurements derived from CT, MRI, and WT were not statistically different from one another (P = 0.220) and the treatment group-by-method interaction was not significant (P = 0.800). This provided evidence of equivalency of the techniques. Mean values for normal and infected groups were not significantly different based on either TAR imaging methods (P = 0.552) or visual scores (P = 0.088). Thus, the current study demonstrated that CT was an acceptable alternative imaging modality which could be used for quantitation of turbinate changes in snouts of live pigs to provide data comparable to tissue taken at necropsy. Computed tomographic imaging would allow non-invasive tracking of disease or treatment responses within individual animals over time. Morphometric analysis of the TAR was equivalent between the CT, MRI, and WT specimens.

Effect of increasing dietary vitamin A on bone density in adult dogs.

There has been an increase in vitamin A fortification of livestock feeds resulting in increased residual vitamin A in organ meats, which are often used in canned dog foods. The effect on bone density of feeding various concentrations of vitamin A in a canned dog food product was investigated. Thirty-two random-source dogs were assigned to four treatments in a randomized complete block design. The diets contained 15,000, 50,000, 116,000, or 225,000 IU vitamin A/1,000 kcal ME. Diets were fed up to 1 yr. Computed tomography was used to determine bone density of the right tibia at 0, 3, 6, 9, and 12 mo. Computed tomography is a more sensitive technique for determining bone density in vivo than conventional x-rays. There were no differences (P > .10) in tibia bone or marrow density in any of the dogs fed the various concentrations of vitamin A. There was no interaction of time x diet on bone density (P > .05) or bone marrow density (P > .05). In addition, there were no changes in serum alkaline phosphatase, calcium, or phosphorus. These results indicate that concentrations of vitamin A three times the recommended maximum safe amount (71,429 IU/1,000 kcal ME) are not detrimental to normal bone health in dogs. Therefore, these data support the hypothesis that canines are less sensitive to excess vitamin A in the diet than some other mammals.

Computed tomography of the normal feline nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses.

Computed tomography (CT) images of the feline nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses were acquired from normal adult cats. Good resolution and anatomic detail were obtained from the CT images using soft tissue formatting. A description of normal feline nasal cavity and paranasal sinus anatomy using CT is presented.

Bronchopulmonary disease in the cat: historical, physical, radiographic, clinicopathologic, and pulmonary functional evaluation of 24 affected and 15 healthy cats.

The results of clinical and pulmonary functional evaluation of 24 cats with bronchopulmonary disease and 15 healthy cats are presented. Affected cats had historical evidence of excessive reflexes (coughing, sneezing); physical evidence of airway secretions (crackles), obstruction (wheezing), and increased tracheal sensitivity; radiographic evidence of bronchial and interstitial lung disease; and cytological evidence of airway inflammation or mucous secretions. Bacterial isolates from healthy and affected cats were predominantly Gram-negative rods, indicating that bronchi of cats are not always sterile and that normal flora should be considered in interpreting cultures from cats with suspected bronchopulmonary disease. Cats were grouped according to relative disease severity based on scored historical, physical, and radiographic abnormalities. The mean (+/- standard deviation) baseline lung resistance measurement in healthy cats was 28.9 cm H2O/L/s (+/- 6.2 cm H2O/L/s), whereas in mildly, moderately, and severely affected cats it was 38.3 cm H2O/L/s (+/- 21.5 cm H2O/L/s), 44.8 cmH2O/L/s (+/- 7.7 cm H2O/L/s), and 105.2 cm H2O/L/s (+/- 66.9 cm H2O/L/s), respectively. In healthy cats, dynamic lung compliance was 19.8 (+/- 7.4), whereas in mildly, moderately, and severely affected cats it was 14.7 mL/cm H2O (+/- 3.8 mL/cm H2O), 17.7 mL/cm H2O (+/- 6.9 mL/cm H2O), and 13.0 mL/cm H2O (+/- 7.9 mL/cm H2O), respectively. Thus, airway obstruction was present in many of the affected cats. Based on acute response to the bronchodilator, terbutaline, airway obstruction was partially reversible in many affected cats, although the degree of reversibility varied. Furthermore, based on bronchoprovocation testing, 6 (of 7) affected cats evaluated also had increased airway responsiveness to aerosolized methacholine.

Effects of aging on the endodontic system, reserve crown, and roots of equine mandibular cheek teeth.

OBJECTIVE: To document age-related changes in the morphology of the endodontic system, reserve crown, and roots of equine mandibular cheek teeth. DESIGN: Equine mandibular cheek teeth from horses of various ages were compared, using radiography, x-ray computed tomography, and histologic examinations. SAMPLE POPULATION: 48 right hemi-mandibles from horses 2 to 9 years old. PROCEDURE: Hemi-mandibles were radiographed, imaged by computed tomographic reconstruction, and reformatted. Histologic examination was used to identify and correlate tissue types. RESULTS: Permanent mandibular cheek teeth of the horse, at the time of eruption, consisted of an exposed crown and a reserve crown with a widely dilated apex. The endodontic system consisted of 5 or 6 pulp horns that connected to an expansive pulp in the reserve crown, which was confluent with the primordial pulp bulb surrounding the tooth's apex. At the time of eruption, mandibular cheek teeth did not have a distinct pulp chamber, roots, or evidence of root formation. However, within 2 years after eruption, mesial and distal roots and a pulp chamber were present. A distinct pulp chamber, communicating with the pulp horns and both root pulp canals, was identifiable for 4 to 5 years from the time of root formation. The endodontic system of cheek teeth, 6 to 8 years after eruption, consisted of 2 unattached compartments, made up of a root canal, pulp chamber, and 2 or 3 pulp horns. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The age-related morphologic changes in equine mandibular cheek teeth have important implications for application of endodontic therapy in horses.

Scintigraphic evaluation of fractures of the distal phalanx in horses: 27 cases (1979-1988).

Retrospective radiographic and scintigraphic analyses were performed on 27 fractures of the distal phalanx in 25 horses. Location of 99mtechnetium methylene diphosphonate (99mTc-MDP) uptake was compared with fracture line location as seen on radiography. Intensity (intense, moderate, mild) and pattern (focal, diffuse) of 99mTc-MDP uptake was recorded and compared with duration of fracture. Nine horses were monitored during convalescence by obtaining additional scintigraphic views 3 to 68 months after injury. Palmar scintigraphic views had evidence of focal areas of increased 99mTc-MDP uptake that corresponded to fracture line location as seen on radiography. Lateral scintigraphic views had evidence of diffuse increased uptake. There was a significant (P < 0.01) association between duration of fracture and intensity of uptake, with fractures < 3 months in duration more likely to have intense focal uptake. All fractures < 10 days in duration had intense focal uptake. As fracture age increased, 99mTc-MDP uptake became less intense and more diffuse. Three fractures not evident on radiography had evidence of 99mTc-MDP uptake on scintigraphy. Stall rest resulted in decreased 99mTc-MDP uptake in 6 of 9 horses, but increased uptake was still visible in all horses between 4 and 25 months after injury. The only scintigraphic view without evidence of increased uptake was that obtained from a horse reexamined 68 months after injury.

Intraosseous pressure and pathologic changes in horses with navicular disease.

Navicular bone intraosseous pressure, gross pathologic, histologic, and histochemical data were collected from 8 horses with navicular disease and 4 control horses. Simultaneous navicular bone intraosseous, medial palmar arterial, and saphenous venous pressures were measured for the left and right forelimbs of each horse under general anesthesia. Gross pathologic evaluation included grading of changes on the flexor surface of the navicular bone. Safranin-O-fast green-stained sections were used for histologic-histochemical grading of the hyaline articular and fibrocartilage surfaces of the navicular bones. Hematoxylin and eosin-stained sections were used for morphologic evaluation of the marrow spaces of navicular bones. Mean navicular bone intraosseous pressure for horses with navicular disease was significantly (P < 0.001) higher than that for controls. Differences in medical palmar arterial or saphenous venous pressures were not significant between groups. The median flexor surface gross pathologic and histologic-histochemical fibrocartilage scores for horses with navicular disease were significantly (P < 0.001) more severe than those for control horses. The histologic-histochemical hyaline cartilage scores for control horses and those for horses with navicular disease were not significantly different. Fibrosis of the marrow spaces beneath the flexor cortex of horses with navicular disease was more pronounced than that of control horses.

Radiographic and histologic effects of chondroitinase ABC on normal canine lumbar intervertebral disc.

Twelve dogs were divided into two equal groups and given lumbar intradiscal injections of 10, 50, or 100 U/ml of chondroitinase ABC reconstituted in sodium acetate buffer. Radiographs of the lumbar spine were made before and after surgery in both groups. Additional films were made at 5 days after surgery in Group I and at 7, 14, and 21 days after surgery in Group II. All spaces injected with 50 or 100 U/ml chondroitinase ABC demonstrated significant radiographic narrowing in both groups compared with uninjected control and buffer injected discs (P less than 0.001). Discs injected with 10 U/ml of chondroitinase ABC showed increased narrowing over time from 7 to 21 days (P less than 0.05). A zone of safranin O depletion was present in the ventral anulus fibrosus adjacent to the nucleus pulposus in all treated discs, indicating proteoglycan loss. All histologic effects of chondroitinase ABC were confined to intervertebral disc tissues. Chondroitinase ABC appears to be effective for chemonucleolysis in dogs.

Variable locations of nutrient foramina of the proximal phalanx in forelimbs of Thoroughbreds.

Bilateral metacarpophalangeal radiographs of 100 Thoroughbreds were examined for visualization and location of the major nutrient foramen of the proximal phalanx. The foramina were located on the dorsal or palmar aspects of the cortex or were not visible radiographically. Of the 100 horses, 60 had the same pattern in both forefeet. In the remaining 40 horses, the left and right proximal phalangeal foramina were asymmetric. Of the 200 proximal phalangeal foramina (100 horses), 53 were on the dorsal aspect of the cortex and 101 were on the palmar aspect of the cortex; 46 were not visible radiographically. Significant effect of age or gender could not be determined.

Two-dimensional echocardiography for diagnosis of dirofilariasis in nine dogs.

Two-dimensional echocardiography (real-time ultrasonography) of the heart was used to detect adult Dirofilaria immitis in the right ventricle and atrium of a 2-year-old Labrador Retriever with occult heartworm disease and in 8 microfilaremic dogs. Adult worms were easily identified as parallel echogenic lines separated by a hypoechoic region. Images of worms fixed in formalin after recovery from dogs with experimentally induced heartworm infection had an identical appearance. The sensitivity of this imaging procedure was tested on the 8 dogs with naturally acquired infection, and worms were observed in the right ventricle of 7 of the dogs. Two-dimensional echocardiography appears to be a sensitive noninvasive procedure, which can be used in combination with thoracic radiography and serotests to improve accuracy of diagnosis of canine occult heartworm disease.

Variable locations of nutrient foramina of the proximal phalanx in forelimbs of standardbreds.

Bilateral metacarpophalangeal radiographs of 100 Standardbreds were examined for visualization and location of nutrient foramina of the proximal phalanx. Foramina were located in the dorsal or palmar cortex or were not visible radiographically. Of 100 horses, 45 had bilaterally symmetrical foramina. Left and right proximal phalangeal foramina were asymmetrical in the remaining 55 horses. Of 200 proximal phalangeal foramina (in 100 horses), 78 were in the dorsal cortex, 61 were in the palmar cortex, and 61 were not visible radiographically. A significant (P = 0.05) effect of age or sex could not be determined.

Misdiagnosis in normal radiographic anatomy: eight structural configurations simulating disease entities in dogs and cats.

Radiographic diagnosis is a combination of accurately identifying normal and abnormal variants, projecting anatomic structures, and describing abnormal findings. Disease conditions may easily be confused with normal structures. Eight conditions and normal counterparts that are presented illustrate the similarities and differences between normal and abnormal.

Pneumonitis associated with occult heartworm disease in dogs.

Nine of 69 dogs with occult heartworm disease (13%) had allergic pneumonitis characterized by consistent clinical and radiographic signs. Although the clinical signs were severe, the degree of radiographic pulmonary arterial abnormalities was mild. Corticosteroid therapy resulted in rapid resolution of clinical and radiographic signs; thiacetarsamide therapy was then given without complications. This syndrome may not be recognized as heartworm-associated and may be confused with other disorders, some being associated with a poor prognosis and requiring different therapy.

An aspirin-prednisolone combination to modify postadulticide lung disease in heartworm-infected dogs.

A combination of aspirin and prednisolone was used in an attempt to modify the pulmonary disease produced by thiacetarsamide treatment of heartworm-infected dogs. Results of 6 heartworm-infected dogs treated with prednisolone (1 mg/kg, daily for 4 weeks) and aspirin (10 mg/kg, daily for 4 weeks) after thiacetarsamide treatment were compared with previously published results of 3 groups of dogs (6 dogs/group). One of these 3 groups was a nontreated control group, another was treated with prednisolone, and the 3rd was treated with aspirin. All dogs, each with 9 adult heartworms transplanted, were treated with a 2-day, twice-a-day treatment of thiacetarsamide (1 mg/kg) 4 weeks after the transplant. Thoracic radiographs were taken before and at 1, 2, and 3 weeks after thiacetarsamide treatment to evaluate lung disease. Pulmonary arteriography was performed before and 3.5 weeks after thiacetarsamide treatment to evaluate pulmonary blood flow. After treatment, radiographs of the aspirin-prednisolone group were similar to radiographs of the prednisolone group, both with a marked attenuation of the parenchymal disease, as compared with the non-treated group. Addition of aspirin to prednisolone prevented the blood flow obstruction and intraluminal filling defects that were present in the groups not receiving aspirin. Sixteen of 54 transplanted heartworms survived thiacetarsamide treatment in both prednisolone-treated groups, in contrast to complete elimination of heartworms in the nontreated group. Aspirin may be considered for treatment of any heartworm-infected dog that does not have hemotypsis, but postthiacetarsamide use of prednisolone should be restricted to the dog that develops severe lung disease after the heartworms have been killed.

Radiographic evaluation of pulmonary abnormalities after Aelurostrongylus abstrusus inoculation in cats.

Bronchial and focal alveolar lung disease was present in cats 3 to 6 weeks after Aelurostrongylus inoculation. More generalized alveolar lung disease was seen during first-stage larval production 5 to 21 weeks after inoculation. Bronchial and interstitial disease entities were seen on radiographs after partial resolution of alveolar disease. These changes were observed 17 to 40 weeks after inoculation.

Aspirin and prednisolone modification of radiographic changes caused by adulticide treatment in dogs with heartworm infection.

The effects of aspirin and prednisolone in modifying the radiographic changes following adulticide treatment were studied in 3 groups of 6 dogs each. The dogs were radiographed and then 9 Dirofilaria immitis adults were surgically transplanted in each dog. All dogs were treated with thiacetarsamide 4 weeks later. One group received no additional treatment, the 2nd group received aspirin (10 mg/kg, daily for 4 weeks), and the 3rd group received prednisolone (1 mg/kg, daily for 4 weeks). Radiographs were taken at 1, 2, and 3 weeks after adulticide treatment, and the dogs were euthanatized at 4 weeks. The most consistent radiographic sign of pulmonary disease was a perivascular alveolar pattern in the caudal and accessory lung lobes. The right caudal lobe was the one most frequently affected. These parenchymal lesions were more frequent and more severe in the dogs given only adulticide treatment than in those given aspirin after adulticide treatment; the latter group in turn was more severely affected than the dogs given prednisolone after adulticide treatment. The radiographic evidence of pulmonary disease was resolving in most dogs at 3 weeks. The alveolar pattern on radiographs was distributed similarly to that observed at necropsy, using parenchymal uptake of Evan's blue as an indication of increased vascular permeability. Dissection of the perfusion-fixed lungs revealed that heartworms in 3 of the 6 dogs given prednisolone appeared to survive adulticide treatment.