RADIOGRAPHIC DIAGNOSIS–PARASPINAL ABSCESS IN A DOG

A two-year-old intact male Brittany Spaniel was admitted for evaluation of progressive spinal pain. Previous treatment had been initiated for suspected lumbosacral intervertebral disk disease, however there was poor response to therapy. On presentation the dog was laterally recumbent and neurological examination revealed hyperesthesia over the lumbar vertebral segments. On survey radiography there was loss of detail in the sublumbar fascial planes and inconclusive lumbar vertebra proliferation. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging was performed to better evaluate the lumbar spine and surrounding tissues, which revealed extensive paralumbar cellulitis, abscessation and osteomyelitis with extradural compression of the spinal cord. MR imaging allowed delineation of the abscessed area, and distinct visualization of its extension into and involvement of the surrounding tissues including muscle, fat, and retroperitoneal structures. In this case, MR imaging was instrumental in defining the extent of the infection and determining whether medical or surgical management of the diseased tissue was necessary. If available, MR may be the imaging method of choice for evaluation of paraspinal abscesses yielding a better insight to the spinal structures involved and facilitating medical or surgical intervention.     

THE RADIOGRAPHIC APPEARANCE OF PULMONARY HISTOPLASMOSIS IN THE CAT

A retrospective study of 18 cats with pulmonary histoplasmosis was conducted to evaluate radiographic patterns of disease and to determine age, breed, and sex distributions. All cats had active disease confirmed by biopsy/aspiration cytology (lung, bone marrow, peripheral lymph nodes, pleural fluid) or necropsy examination. Cats 3 years of age or less had the highest incidence of disease; females outnumbered males 2 to 1. Radiographically, most cats had an interstitial pattern which appeared as a fine, diffuse or linear pattern, or as a more distinct nodular pattern. An alveolar pattern was an uncommon radiographic finding. Tracheobronchial lymphadenopathy and calcified lymph nodes or pulmonary parenchymal lesions were not identified in these cats.     

RADIOGRAPHIC CHARACTERIZATION OF THE OS PENIS IN THE CAT

The os penis in the cat has not been described radiographically, as compared with the dog. However, a small linear bony radiopacity is sometimes detected in the perineal area of male cats. We hypothesized that the feline os penis might be visible on survey radiographs of the pelvis, and we aimed to investigate the frequency of its visualization using analog and computed radiography (CR) system. One hundred radiographs of the pelvis of 99 male cats were reviewed retrospectively (50 were obtained with a CR system and 50 with an analog system). Age, breed, neutering status, and reason for presentation were recorded, as well as the visualization of the os penis. An os penis was detected in 19/50 (38%) cats with CR and in eight of 50 (16%) cats with analog radiography; this difference was statistically significant. With CR, the median age of cats with a visible os penis was significantly higher than in cats where the os penis was not seen. In one cat with a visible os penis examined with CR and analog radiography, the os penis was only visible on CR images. The penile tissues were examined histopathologically in one cat and well‐differentiated bone was found but there were no pathologic findings detected in surrounding tissues. Thus, the os penis can be detected on radiographs of cats and this should not be mistaken for a pathologic finding such as urolithiasis or dystrophic mineralization.     

THE RADIOGRAPHIC APPEARANCE OF THE PULMONARY VASCULATURE IN THE CAT

The purpose of this study was to determine the dimensions of the pulmonary arteries and veins in the cat, both in normal animals and those with evidence of intrathoracic disease. The radiographs of 50 normal cats, 35 cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), and 15 cats with other intrathoracic disease were assessed. The normal range for the right cranial lobar artery compared with the proximal third of the fourth rib was 0.5-1.0, with a mean artery-to-rib ratio of 0.70 (standard deviation +/- 0.13). Normal cats had a mean vein diameter of (0.20 +/- 0.03 cm) (P = 0.034) compared with cats with HCM, which had a significantly greater mean vein diameter (0.22 +/- 0.04 cm).     

THE RADIOGRAPHIC APPEARANCE OF RETICULAR DIAPHRAGMATIC HERNIATION AND TRAUMATIC PERICARDITIS IN BUFFALOES AND CATTLE

Survey radiography is used in diagnosis of different affections in buffaloes and cattle. The aim of the present study was to assess the role of radiography in diagnosis of reticular diaphragmatic hernias and traumatic pericarditis in buffaloes and cattle. The present study was carried out on 69 animals (51 buffaloes and 18 cattle). Reticular diaphragmatic hernias (40 buffaloes, 4 cattle) and traumatic pericarditis (11 buffaloes, 14 cattle) were evaluated. Lateral right-left survey radiography of the thorax was performed. In diaphragmatic hernia, radiography revealed presence of a rounded or vertical oval mass of soft tissue opacity superimposed over the heart. Radiopaque foreign bodies of variable shape and size were seen within the herniated part of the reticulum. The apex of the heart was difficult to visualize. With traumatic pericarditis, survey radiography of the thorax revealed poor differentiation of thoracic contents. The contour of the diaphragm was lost and the cardiac silhouette was obscured. In several animals radiopaque foreign bodies (sewing needles, nails, and pieces of wire) were detected at the level of the heart or in the area connecting the dome of the diaphragm with the heart.     

UNUSUAL DISC HERNIATION IN A DOG

Unusual disc herniation was identified in a dog. Disc herniation was considered unusual because of its displacement into the vertebral endplate of the adjoining vertebra. Unusual disc herniation in this dog was compared with Schmorl's node in humans.     

THE UPPER GASTROINTESTINAL EXAMINATION IN THE CAT: NORMAL RADIOGRAPHIC APPEARANCE USING POSITIVE CONTRAST MEDIUM

The normal radiographic appearance of the feline upper gastrointestinal (UGI) examination following oral administration of barium sulfate suspensions was described. Important findings included the minimal gastric air and small bowel gas present on survey abdominal radiographs. Gastric appearance was nearly constant. A normal duodenal pattern, referred to as a "string of pearls", was described. Small bowel lumen size was consistently less than 12 mm. Small bowel mucosal patterns varied widely. The most commonly identified normal radiographic UGI patterns in this study were found consistently in a group of 26 cats thought to be without gastrointestinal disease. Because of the consistency of observation of many radiographic patterns, rapid gastric emptying, and a short small bowel transit time, normal UGI examinations in the cat present a more constant appearance than in the dog, thus making them more valuable as well as easier to conduct.     

DISCOSPONDYLITIS IN A CAT

The incidence and causative agents of discospondylitis in cats are unknown. This report describes a cat with radiologic changes consistent with discospondylitis and concurrent urinary tract infection. As in dogs, discospondylitis should be the primary rule out for vertebral end plate lysis in cats.