PUPPY LINE, METAPHYSEAL SCLEROSIS, AND CAUDOLATERAL CURVILINEAR AND CIRCUMFERENTIAL FEMORAL HEAD OSTEOPHYTES IN EARLY DETECTION OF CANINE HIP DYSPLASIA

Ventrodorsal extended hip radiographs were analyzed from Foxhounds, Irish setters, Greyhounds, and Labrador retrievers radiographed four to seven times between 8 and 110 weeks of age. Occurrence in these 91 dogs of a puppy line, an ill-defined zone of proximal femoral metaphyseal sclerosis, a femoral neck linear sclerosis, or circumferential linear femoral head osteophytosis at 15–17 weeks of age were compared with hip joint laxity, as measured by distraction index, and to later findings of caudal curvilinear femoral neck osteophytes, circumferential femoral head osteophytes, hip incongruity consistent with hip dysplasia and degenerative joint disease by 52 weeks of age. A puppy line and/or femoral metaphyseal sclerosis was common at 15–17 weeks of age for dogs at mimimal risk (Greyhounds) and high risk (Foxhounds) of developing early degenerative joint disease associated with canine hip dysplasia. Though 44% of Greyhound hips had puppy lines and 28% had femoral metaphyseal sclerosis at 15–17 weeks of age, no Greyhound had a caudolateral curvilinear osteophyte or circumferential femoral head osteophyte at 24–27 or 52 weeks of age. No significant relationship was found between occurrence of a puppy line, a circumferential femoral head osteophyte or femoral metaphyseal sclerosis at 15–17 weeks and canine hip dysplasia or degenerative joint disease incidence at 42–52 weeks. Presence of a caudolateral curvilinear osteophyte in at least one hip at 24–27 weeks was significantly related to the diagnosis of canine hip dysplasia by 42–52 weeks. When both a caudolateral curvilinear osteophyte and a circumferential femoral head osteophyte were present in a hip at 24–27 weeks, degenerative joint disease was evident in all such hips by 42–52 weeks of age.     

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN RADIOGRAPHIC HILAR LYMPHADENOPATHY AND SEROLOGIC TITERS FOR COCCIDIOIDES SP. IN DOGS IN AN ENDEMIC REGION

Hilar lymphadenopathy is a common radiographic finding in coccidioides infections. Serologic studies are used most often for the diagnosis of coccidioidomycosis in endemic areas, with IgG titers ≥1:8 considered positive for infection and lower IgG titers of <1:8 considered indicative of exposure and not necessarily related to organism presence. The objective of this study was to determine the relationship of hilar lymphadenopathy to coccidioidomycosis titers for dogs in an endemic area. A positive association between these parameters would allow treatment to be initiated before obtaining titer results. Thoracic radiographs of 131 dogs from an endemic area were reviewed for evidence of hilar lymphadenopathy. These results were compared with serology results. There was a significant association between hilar lymphadenopathy and a positive serology result (P<0.001). With hilar lymphadenopathy as a predictor of a positive titer result, sensitivity was 28.0%, specificity was 91.5%, the positive predictive value was 43.8%; and the negative predictive value was 84.4%. There was no association between the titer result and gender, age, or weight. The radiographic finding of hilar lymphadenopathy appears to be a useful indicator of coccidioidomycosis infection in an endemic population of dogs supporting the treatment of patients for coccidioidomycosis when hilar lymphadenopathy is present and before obtaining serology results.     

DIAGNOSTIC ACCURACY OF GRAY‐SCALE ULTRASONOGRAPHY FOR THE DETECTION OF HEPATIC AND SPLENIC LYMPHOMA IN DOGS

Gray‐scale ultrasonography is often used to screen for involvement of the liver and spleen in canine lymphoma patients but the utility of sonography for staging lymphoma has not been evaluated quantitatively. We performed abdominal sonography in 28 dogs with a confirmed diagnosis of lymphoma. Needle aspirates were obtained for cytology from three separate sites in the liver and three sites in the spleen and the sonographic appearance was noted at each site. Our hypothesis was that in dogs newly diagnosed with lymphoma, abnormal appearance of the liver or spleen on ultrasound examination is an indication that lymphoma is present in that organ. Cytologic evaluation was used as the gold standard. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy of hepatic and splenic abnormalities seen on ultrasound for diagnosis of lymphoma were 72.7%, 80.6%, 77.4%, 76.3%, and 76.8% for the liver, respectively, and 100%, 23.3%, 64.6%, 100%, and 68.1% for the spleen, respectively. Based on these results, we recommend that aspirates be performed for detection of lymphoma in the spleen of dogs only when the spleen appears abnormal ultrasonographically and that cytology of the liver be performed, regardless of ultrasonographic appearance, to determine the presence or absence of lymphoma.     

Town versus Gown: The Effect of a College on Housing Prices and the Tax Base

The analysis reported here suggests that the presence of a college is associated with house prices that are about 2.7 percent higher. However, the effect is caused only by 4‐year colleges, and the primary source of the effect is the degree to which the college is residential. Interestingly, the size of the college as measured by enrollment has no effect on house prices. While the results indicate that municipalities with a community college have a tax base that is 11.6 percent higher, evidence to support the claim that colleges cause the tax base increase is weak. Finally, neither the size of the college (measured by enrollment) nor the degree to which the college is residential has an impact on the tax base.     

EVALUATION OF LYMPHOMA IN A CAT USING 99mTc-SESTAMIBI

This report describes the evaluation of cutaneous lymphoma in a cat using 99mTc-sestamibi. A mass in the left pes with extension to the left popliteal lymph node was diagnosed as B-cell lymphoma. Thoracic and abdominal radiography and abdominal ultrasound were unremarkable. Scintigraphy using 99mTc-sestamibi confirmed the lesion was confined to the left hind leg, and the leg was amputated. The cat made a full recovery.