6 research outputs found
CT features of divisional bile ducts in healthy Labrador Retrievers
No full textComputed tomography (CT) is increasingly being used for the study of gallbladder and bile duct diseases. The first step in interpreting CT findings is understanding the cross-sectional anatomy of the structures involved, but there are no published studies describing the CT features of the divisional bile ducts. In dogs, anatomic studies report two common patterns including three or four divisional bile ducts. The aim of this retrospective, descriptive, anatomical study was to describe the size and pattern of the visible divisional bile ducts, based on their location and extension, using contrast-enhanced CT in a group of Labrador Retrievers without evidence of hepatobiliary diseases. The correlation between the biliary duct number and dimensions, and the visceral fat area percentage (VFA%) was also evaluated. The right lateral divisional duct (RLD) was visualized in four of 40 dogs, the left lateral divisional duct (LLD) in nine of 40 dogs, and in 17 of 40 dogs, both were simultaneously visualized. In 10 of 40 dogs, the RLD and LLD were not highlighted. When visible, the RLD has a median diameter of 0.23 cm and a median length of 0.82 cm. The LLD has a median diameter of 0.23 cm and a median length of 2.72 cm. The median diameter of the common bile duct before and after the insertion of divisional bile ducts was 0.23 and 0.25 cm, respectively. No correlation with the VFA% was found. At least one of the divisional bile ducts could be visualized using contrast-enhanced CT in the majority of sampled dogs (75%)
Computed tomographic features of pulmonary and extrapulmonary lesions can be useful in prioritizing the diagnosis of hemangiosarcoma metastases in dogs
No full textValutazione delle caratteristiche tomografiche delle lesioni metastatiche nel cane
No full textRIASSUNTO
Il progetto di ricerca sviluppato durante i tre anni di Dottorato si è concentrato l’applicazione della diagnostica per immagini, ed in particolar modo la tomografia computerizzata (TC), nel paziente oncologico in medicina veterinaria. Nel primo progetto, sono stati studiati 271 cani per identificare caratteristiche tomografiche delle lesioni metastatiche polmonari e la loro correlazione con l'istotipo neoplastico primario. Questo studio ha permesso di identificare alcune caratteristiche tomografiche che presentavano una maggiore prevalenza in un istotipo tumorale rispetto ad altri e quindi permettere di orientare in modo più efficace la ricerca di una neoplasia primaria non chiaramente evidente, consentire di stilare una lista di diagnosi differenziali con una maggiore confidenza nell’ordine di sospetto e dare informazioni al clinico nei casi in cui la lesione primaria e/o le lesioni metastatiche non possano essere campionate. Il secondo progetto ha esaminato le lesioni metastatiche extra-polmonari da emangiosarcoma (HSA) in 62 cani, identificando un pattern di enhancement caratteristico che abbiamo denominato S.P.L.A.S.H. sign (Spotty Post-contrast Linear to Amorphous Strong Hyperdensity). Inoltre, questo studio, conferma l’importante ruolo della TC total-body nella stadiazione dei pazienti con HSA. Infine, il terzo progetto ha confrontato l'efficacia dell'ecografia addominale e della TC nella visualizzazione delle lesioni nodulari renali, evidenziando una maggiore accuratezza della TC nel rilevare lesioni renali; i noduli renali erano frequentemente rappresentati da metastasi, soprattutto da carcinomi polmonari e tiroidei, supportando l'uso della TC come tecnica di imaging a fini di stadiazione.
ABSTRACT
The research project developed over the three years of the Ph.D. program focused on the application
of imaging diagnostics, particularly computed tomography (CT), in oncological patients in veterinary medicine. In the first project, 271 dogs were studied to identify tomographic characteristics of lung metastatic lesions and their correlation with the primary neoplastic histotype. This study allowed the identification of certain tomographic features that were more prevalent in a tumor histotype compared to others, facilitating the more effective targeting of primary not clearly evident neoplasms, enabling the compilation of a list of differential diagnoses with greater confidence in the order of suspicion, and providing information to the clinician in cases where the primary lesion and/or metastatic lesions could not be sampled. The second project examined extra-pulmonary metastatic lesions from hemangiosarcoma (HSA) in 62 dogs, identifying a characteristic enhancement pattern termed S.P.L.A.S.H. sign (Spotty Post-contrast Linear to Amorphous Strong Hyperdensity). Furthermore, this study confirmed the significant role of total-body CT in staging patients with HSA. Finally, the third project compared the efficacy of abdominal ultrasound and CT in visualizing renal nodular lesions, highlighting the greater accuracy of CT in detecting renal lesions. Renal nodules were frequently represented by metastases, particularly from pulmonary and thyroid carcinomas, supporting the use of CT as an imaging technique for staging purposes
Lesioni metastatiche polmonari in corso di TC toracica nel cane: influenza della tecnica breath-hold.
No full textRiassunto
Le lesioni metastatiche sono disseminazioni di cellule neoplastiche a siti secondari discontinui, o di ordine superiore, in cui proliferano a formare una massa macroscopica. I polmoni sono un sito comunemente coinvolto nel processo metastatico e la diagnostica per immagini riveste un ruolo fondamentale nella stadiazione del paziente oncologico.
In medicina veterinaria non è possibile effettuare un esame tomografico con il paziente vigile, infatti viene effettuato in anestesia generale. Quest’ultima è necessaria per l'induzione dell'apnea che impedisce la formazione di artefatti da movimento, ma ha effetti negativi diretti sulla ventilazione polmonare, come la predisposizione all'atelettasia.
Lo scopo del nostro studio è di valutare se la tecnica di breath-hold, che prevede l’apnea associata ad una pressione positiva di 10 cmH2O, riesce a migliorare il contrasto ed il volume polmonare così da migliorare la visualizzazione di eventuali lesioni metastatiche polmonari. A questo scopo abbiamo confrontato le immagini tomografiche di pazienti di specie canina ottenute con la tecnica breath-hold, con scansioni TC toraciche standard in apnea.
Abstract
Metastatic lesions represent the spread of cancer cells to secondary discontinuous sites, or of higher order, where they are going to proliferate and develop a macroscopic mass. The lung is a site commonly involved in the metastatic process and diagnostic imaging has a primary role in the oncologic patient's staging. In veterinary medicine is not possible to perform a tomographic exam with the patient awake, indeed the general anaesthesia is required. It is fundamental for the apnoea induction, which prevent motion artefacts, but otherwise has negative effects on lung ventilation, as atelectasis predisposition. Our study aims to evaluate the breath-hold technique, which provides the apnoea with a positive pressure of 10cmH2o and can improve the lung contrast and volume to improve the visualization of possible lung metastatic lesions. For this purpose, we compared tomographic images of dogs obtained by the breath-hold technique, with standard CT thoracic scansions during apnoea
Pseudomembranous Cystitis: An Uncommon Ultrasound Appearance of Cystitis in Cats and Dogs
No full textIn veterinary medicine, pseudomembranous cystitis (PC) is a rare condition described only in cats. The purposes of this retrospective study were to describe ultrasound features of PC in cats and dogs, predisposing factors, comorbidities and outcomes. Cats and dogs with an ultrasonographic diagnosis of PC were included in the study. The bladder ultrasound findings that were recorded were: pseudomembranes’ characteristics, abnormalities of the bladder’s wall and content and anomalies of the pericystic peritoneal space. Ten cats and four dogs met the inclusion criteria. Four pseudomembrane adhesion patterns were described. The presence of pseudomembrane acoustic shadowing was observed in the 60% of cats. A total of 80% of the cats included were presented for urethral obstruction (UO) and/or had at least one episode of UO in the previous 2 months. Thirteen patients out of fourteen received only medical therapy, and all of them survived. PC is a rare disorder in cats and dogs and there are some ultrasonographic differences between the two species, suggesting a greater severity of the pathology in cats. Chronic cystitis and UO may have a potential role in the development of feline PC. Finally, the medical approach can be a non-invasive and effective approach for PC
