IMAGING DIAGNOSIS—BILATERAL ABNORMAL OSSIFICATION OF THE SUPRAGLENOID TUBERCLE AND CRANIAL GLENOID CAVITY IN AN ENGLISH SETTER

An 8‐month‐old intact male English Setter was presented with bilateral shoulder lameness. Radiographic and CT examinations demonstrated bilateral irregular margination and separation of the supraglenoid tubercle from the scapula, with involvement of the cranial articular surface of the glenoid cavity. After 30 days of cage rest, complete fusion of proximal portions of both supraglenoid tubercles and persistent un‐united cranial portions of both glenoid cavities were evident. Histopathologic findings from biopsies of glenoid cavity defects were consistent with osteochondrosis or focal chondrodysplasia.     

IMAGING FINDINGS IN 14 DOMESTIC FERRETS (MUSTELA PUTORIUS FURO) WITH LYMPHOMA

Lymphoma is the most common malignant neoplasia in domestic ferrets, Mustela putorius furo. However, imaging findings in ferrets with lymphoma have primarily been described in single case reports. The purpose of this retrospective study was to describe imaging findings in a group of ferrets with confirmed lymphoma. Medical records were searched between 2002 and 2012. A total of 14 ferrets were included. Radiographs (n = 12), ultrasound (n = 14), computed tomography (CT; n = 1), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI; n = 1) images were available for review. Median age at the time of diagnosis was 5.2 years (range 3.25–7.6 years). Clinical signs were predominantly nonspecific (8/14). The time between the first imaging study and lymphoma diagnosis was 1 day or less in most ferrets (12). Imaging lesions were predominantly detected in the abdomen, and most frequently included intra‐abdominal lymphadenopathy (12/14), splenomegaly (8/14), and peritoneal effusion (11/14). Lymphadenopathy and mass lesions were typically hypoechoic on ultrasound. Mild peritoneal effusion was the only detected abnormality in two ferrets. Mild pleural effusion was the most common thoracic abnormality (3/12). Expansile lytic lesions were present in the vertebrae of two ferrets with T3‐L3 myelopathy and the femur in a ferret with lameness. Hyperattenuating, enhancing masses with secondary spinal cord compression were associated with vertebral lysis in CT images of one ferret. The MRI study in one ferret with myelopathy was inconclusive. Findings indicated that imaging characteristics of lymphoma in ferrets are similar to those previously reported in dogs, cats, and humans.     

COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS OF PRESUMED NORMAL CANINE ABDOMINAL LYMPH NODES

Though identification of lymph nodes is essential in staging cancer patients, little has been reported about the CT features of canine abdominal lymph nodes. The purpose of this retrospective study was to describe the visibility, location, and characteristics of abdominal lymph nodes in abdominal CT studies of dogs considered unlikely to have lymphadenopathy. The relationship between the number of identified lymph nodes and intraabdominal fat ranking, body weight, and slice thickness was also investigated. A total of 19 dogs were included. At least two jejunal lymph nodes and both left and right medial iliac lymph nodes were identified in all dogs. Colic lymph nodes were not identified in any of the dogs. Visualization of all other lymph nodes varied. There were significantly more lymph nodes visible in dogs with more intraabdominal fat (P < 0.0001). No correlation between the number of identified lymph nodes and body weight (P = 0.64) or slice thickness (P = 0.76) was found. Though most of all identified lymph nodes had an elongated shape, a rounded shape was most common in splenic, pancreaticoduodenal, renal, ileocolic and caudal mesenteric lymph nodes. Most lymph nodes had a homogeneous structure before and following the intravenous administration of contrast medium. Some lymph nodes had a slightly irregular structure or were relatively more hyper attenuating in the periphery than centrally before and/or after contrast administration. Mean attenuation before contrast was 37 Hounsfield Units (HU) (range 20–52 HU), and 109 HU after contrast (range 36–223 HU). Findings indicated that the CT visibility, characteristics of different abdominal lymph nodes may be variable in dogs.     

Successful medical treatment of an orbital osteoma in a dog

A 6‐year‐old neutered male German Shepherd‐mixed breed with a 2‐month history of bilateral conjunctival hyperemia, epiphora, and a firm, slowly progressive swelling of the medial canthal region of the left eye (OS) was examined. Ophthalmic examination OS revealed a firm and smooth mass, extending from the medial canthus toward the medial orbital wall. Indirect ophthalmoscopy revealed indentation of the nasal part OS, which corresponded to the position of the orbital mass. Orbital neoplastic diseases were the main differential considerations. Computerized tomography revealed a bony smooth orbital mass without bone destructive features. Biopsy was performed, and histologic features were suggestive of osteoma. Systemic nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory (NSAID) drugs resulted in complete mass regression and absence of clinical signs for 5 years following initial diagnosis. This report describes the first case of canine orbital osteoma, which was responsive to NSAIDs.     

Effect of lamellas annual-ring orientation on cracking of glulam beams investigated with computer tomography and image processing

Abstract

Cracks in glulam beams can reduce their strength, depending on the crack's depth, length, and location and can also be a passage for the accumulation of water and dirt. To avoid cracks, the relationship between cracks (area of cracks, mm²) and annual-ring orientation in glulam beams of spruce (Picea abies), and pine (Pinus sylvestris) with different dimensions and surface treatments was investigated using RGB images of the surface and tomography images of the cross-sections. Image processing was used to measure characteristics visible in the photos such as crack area and lamella position in the beam. Combination of lamellas in lay up was measured from computer tomography images. Four types of combinations were defined; type 1 (pith side facing outward), types 2 and 3 (pith to the same side), and type 4 (pith sides meet pith side). It was found that the area close to the glue line in the lamellas in combination type 4 is the most subject to cracking, whereas combinations of type 1 show the highest resistance to cracking. This means that type 4 should not be used in glulam beams, because the lamellas shrink apart from each other causing stresses and resulting cracks.     

耕作方式对岩溶区甘蔗地土壤优先流特征的影响

岩溶区特殊的岩性地质条件,使土壤优先流现象广泛发生。以广西岩溶区内的典型农地甘蔗地作为研究对象,利用野外染色示踪技术和图像解析方法,分别对传统耕作(CT)和粉垄耕作(SRT)方式下的田间土壤优先流特征进行分析,揭示耕作方式对岩溶区甘蔗地土壤优先流的发生及其空间发展变化的影响。结果表明:①在相同外部供水条件下,传统耕作甘蔗地优先流运动分化程度相对较高,多呈指状形式,且平均湿润锋下渗深度为43.19 cm,显著大于粉垄耕作(P0.05),而粉垄耕作甘蔗地优先流以横向运动形式为主,表现为团块状湿润锋形式;②粉垄耕作甘蔗地土壤优先流发生时间显著滞后于传统耕作(P0.05),是其1.67倍;③随土壤深度的增加,两种耕作方式下的甘蔗地土壤优先流发育程度总体呈现先增加后降低的变化趋势,但粉垄耕作甘蔗地优先流比(70.72%)和长度指数(527.12%)均显著小于传统耕作甘蔗地(P0.05),且在土壤空间中对应的染色形态变异系数(1.19)是传统耕作的1.38倍,优先流发育程度显著低于传统耕作甘蔗地。粉垄耕作与传统耕作方式相比,在一定程度上降低了田间土壤优先流现象,改善了田间土层中的水肥状况。     

Effect of contrast media formulation on computed tomography angiographic contrast enhancement.

The characteristics of contrast media formulation (mgI/ml, osmolarity, and viscosity) are generally not considered important in computed tomography (CT) angiography in animals. The purpose of this study was to assess the contrast effect in CT angiography as a function of contrast media formulation, with a constant iodine dose. The contrast effects of three contrast media with different iodine concentrations were compared by administering identical iodine dosages (mgI/kg). The contrast effects of the three contrast media differed, and the area under the time-attenuation curve of iohexol 350 mgI/ml, which had the highest iodine concentration, was the lowest. It was hypothesized that the contrast effect of a contrast medium decreases with higher iodine concentration because of the high amount of residual iodine present in the circulatory system from the injection site to the portion immediately before the great vessels. In addition, the influence of osmotic dilution on contrast media with high osmolarity was also considered. In conclusion, the contrast effect varies with different contrast media formulations, even when the same iodine dosage is administered.     

Morphological changes of physeal cartilage and secondary ossification centres in the developing femur of the house mouse (Mus musculus): A micro‐CT based study

In mammals, long bones are formed by ossification of a cartilaginous mould during early stages of development, through the formation of structures called the primary ossification centre, the secondary ossification centres (SOCs) and the physeal cartilages (PCs). The PC is responsible for long bone growth. The morphology of the PC and the SOCs varies during different stages of femoral growth. In this respect, several details involving the process of murine femoral development are lacking. In the present study, a morphological characterization of femur development from the embryonic period to adulthood in mice was studied using micro‐computed tomography (micro‐CT). To achieve this aim, femora were collected at embryonic day (E) 14.5, E16.5 and E18.5 and at postnatal day (P)1, P7, P14, P35, P46 and P52. CT images were obtained using a micro‐CT scanner (X‐SkyScan 1172; Micro Photonics) and analysed using the micro‐CT 3D visualization software Mimics (Materialise NV, Leuven, Belgium) and NRecon (Micro Photonics). The results of the present study revealed that the femur and its PCs and SOCs undergo morphological changes during different stages of development, including changes in their shape as well as position and thickness. These changes may be due to the response of the femur to mechanical loads imposed by muscle surrounding the bone during these stages of development. The result of the present study is important to improve our knowledge related to ossification and growth patterns of mouse femur during development.