ULTRASONOGRAPHY VERSUS RADIOGRAPHY FOR DETECTION OF FLUID IN THE CANINE TYMPANIC BULLA |
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| Authors: | Leigh G. Griffiths MA VETMB DSAS MRCVS Martin Sullivan BVMS PHD DVR MRCVS Turlough O''Neill MVB MACVSC MRCVS Stewart W. J. Reid BVMS PHD. MRCVS |
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| Affiliation: | The University of Liverpool, Department of Veterinary Clinical Science and Animal Husbandry, Small Animal Hospital, Crown Street, Liverpool, Merseyside, L7 7EX, England. |
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| Abstract: | The tympanic bullae of 20 previously healthy cadaver animals were randomly filled with sterile saline or air. The heads were positioned using tape ties and a rostrocaudal open mouth radiograph taken. The resulting radiographs were assessed by a blinded ECVDI diplomate, with each tympanic bulla being recorded as being either air or fluid filled. Ultrasound examination of the bullae was performed, by a blinded assessor, using a B-mode 5 mHz sector probe (Sonotron-VingMed Sound A/S, PO Box 141, N3191, Horten, Norway) operating at 3 mHz. Each bulla was recorded as being either air or fluid filled. Results of radiography and ultrasonography were each compared to the actual status of the bulla in a chi square analysis. Sensitivity of radiography was 80%, with specificity of 65%. Ultrasonographic sensitivity was 100% and specificity 100%. Ultrasonography may in future provide a cheap, noninvasive, rapid and widely available method for diagnosing otitis media in clinical cases. |
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| Keywords: | tympanic bulla ultrasound radiography otitis media |
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