Ultrasonographic features of splenic hemangiosarcoma in dogs: 18 cases (1980-1986)

The medical records of 18 dogs in which ultrasonography was useful in making a diagnosis of splenic hemangiosarcoma were reviewed. Splenic ultrasonography revealed masses with echo patterns that ranged from anechoic fluid to hyperechoic tissue. In 7 dogs, metastasis was detected ultrasonographically as anechoic to hypoechoic lesions in the liver.     

Ultrasonographic features of splenic lymphosarcoma in dogs: 12 cases (1980-1986)

The ultrasonographic appearance of the spleen and adjacent organs in 12 dogs with splenic lymphosarcoma was reviewed. Poorly marginated hypoechoic to anechoic nodules (4 mm to 3 cm in diameter) were found in all dogs. The anechoic nodules did not result in reflective shadowing or acoustic enhancement of the underlying tissues. The remainder of the splenic parenchyma appeared relatively hypoechoic when compared with the liver or renal cortices in 9 dogs. Recognition of this ultrasonographic pattern appears to be a useful diagnostic tool. Needle aspiration guided ultrasonographically will then enable histologic confirmation of lymphosarcoma.     

A REVIEW OF THE EFFECTS OF RADIATION THERAPY ON BONE

A literature review describes bone changes that may develop after radiation therapy. Irradiation of mature bone results in vascular and cellular changes best characterized as osteopenia. Irradiated bone is susceptible to subsequent fracture, septic osteoradionecrosis, and sarcoma formation. Irradiation of fractured bones may result in delayed healing or nonunion of the fracture; however, in some patients, healing will occur. Pathologic fractures associated with neoplasia may heal after radiation therapy if internal fixation is employed. Irradiation of growing bone typically results in retardation of longitudinal growth. Clinical manifestations of radiation-induced changes of bone are uncommon; however, when they occur, the results may be devastating.     

Causes of death in sheep exported live by sea

Post-mortem examinations were conducted on 950 dead and terminally ill sheep during assembly for export and during transport by sea from Fremantle, Western Australia to various Middle East ports. Causes of death were grouped into 5 major categories; inanition (deaths associated with reduced feed intake, including hypocalcaemia and hypomagnesaemia), salmonellosis (enteric and septicaemic), trauma, diseases associated with excessive feed intake (lactic acidosis and enterotoxaemia) and miscellaneous diseases (mostly of farm origin). During assembly the causes of death were salmonellosis 53.4%, miscellaneous diseases 23.8%, trauma 12.6%, inanition 10.2%, acidosis 3.9%, enterotoxaemia 3.4% and no diagnosis was made in 3.4%. During shipping the causes of death in defined populations of sheep in 5 voyages were; inanition 43.4%, salmonellosis 20.2%, trauma 10.6%, miscellaneous diseases 5.9%, enterotoxaemia 1.0% and no diagnosis was made in 19.0%. The range of mortality rates per 10,000 sheep at risk for the first 11 days at sea in 5 voyages were inanition 52.6 to 76.7, salmonellosis 7.8 to 109.8, trauma 2.1 to 17.1, miscellaneous diseases 5.9 to 17.1 and enterotoxaemia nil to 10.3.     

Splenomegaly in Dogs

Splenomegaly confirmed by surgery or necropsy in 100 dogs was diagnosed histologically as benign neoplasia (n = 1), primary splenic malignancy (n = 59), neoplastic metastases (n = 6), and nonneoplastic disease (n = 34). Dogs with known systemic disease, such as lymphoma and mast cell tumor, that caused splenomegaly were not included in the study. Hemangiosarcoma was the most common splenic disease (43 cases). Overall mean age of the dogs was 10.7 years, the most common breed was German Shepherd dog, and 72 of the dogs weighed more than 21 kg. Dogs with anemia, nucleated red blood cells, abnormal red blood cell morphology, or splenic rupture had a significantly greater chance of having splenic neoplasia (P less than 0.002). A multivariable logistic regression analysis found that the presence of anemia and splenic rupture in dogs with splenomegaly was up to 69% accurate in predicting presence of splenic neoplasia. After splenectomy, the median survival time of dogs with splenic neoplasia was 13 weeks. For dogs with nonneoplastic splenomegaly it was at least 36 weeks.     

Effect of sodium hyaluronate in collagenase-induced superficial digital flexor tendinitis in horses.

Superficial digital flexor tendinitis was induced in each forelimb of 8 horses by injecting 4,000 U of collagenase into the midmetacarpal region of the tendon. In each horse, each tendon was treated 24 and 96 hours after the collagenase injection with SC injections of sodium hyaluronate (treated limbs) or an equal volume of 0.9% NaCl solution (control limbs). Exercise was restricted for the first 3 weeks of the study, and a controlled exercise program was instituted for the remainder of the study. Horses were evaluated clinically for lameness, tendon swelling, and midmetacarpal limb circumference. Ultrasonographic examinations were performed regularly (11 examinations/horse) throughout the study, and all horses were euthanatized 12 weeks after collagenase injections. Tendons from 4 horses were harvested for biomechanical testing, and samples were obtained from tendons from the remaining 4 horses for biochemical analysis of collagen. Samples were obtained from all tendons for microscopic evaluation. Significant differences between treated and control tendons were not noticed in any of the variables examined in live horses, although trends toward less lameness in treated limbs and toward better healing on ultrasonographic examination in control limbs were recorded. Significant differences were not noticed in biomechanical or biochemical evaluations, and the only significant (P < 0.05) microscopic finding was more severe inflammation in tendons from treated limbs. This study did not reveal significant benefits of treatment with sodium hyaluronate outside a synovial sheath on tendon repair in collagenase-induced tendinitis.     

SONOGRAPHIC APPEARANCE OF RENAL NEOPLASIA IN THE DOG

Eight dogs with renal neoplasia were radiographically and sonographically examined. An enlarged, nonopacified kidney was seen on the excretory urogram in four dogs, but differentiation between a solid mass or severe hydronephrosis was not possible. The excretory urogram suggested an avascular lesion in one kidney, but differentiation between solid or cystic disease was not possible. Renal neoplasia was diagnosed in two dogs by excretory urography. Radiographic examination suggested splenic neoplasia in one dog. Solid masses were sonographically diagnosed in all dogs. A metastatic lesion was sonographically diagnosed in the opposite kidney of one dog that was missed on the radiographic examination. Ultrasonography com-plemented radiography as a diagnostic modality in eliciting additional information on renal disease. Sonograms did not allow determination of tumor cell type or whether the tumor was benign or malignant.     

Investigation of osteochondrosis in grazing beef cattle

Severe lameness attributed to osteochondrosis is described in an extensively managed Brahman herd grazing on improved native pasture. Clinical signs were observed in five animals, three of which were necropsied. The most prominent lesions were in the elbow and stifle joints. There was multiple fissuring and ulceration of thickened articular cartilage with numerous osteochondral bodies present in the joint spaces. All affected animals were entire males sharing a common ancestral sire. Inheritance and gender were suspected to be contributing factors in the development of the disease.     

CANINE CERVICAL DISCOGRAPHY

A technique was developed to perform cervical discography in dogs. The radiographic appearance of 70 normal canine cervical discograms was established. No clinical effects were detected when the contrast medium was injected into the discs. No abnormalities were found in subsequent pathologic examinations. In four dogs with cervical disc disease, dorsal and lateral ruptures of the annulus fibrosus were detected by discography. When combined with myelography, discography allowed differentiation between various causes of spinal compression at intervertebral spaces.