Recurrent Perineal Hernia in a Female Cat Diagnosed by Positive-Contrast Vaginourethrocystogram.

A 9 yr old female spayed domestic shorthair was presented with a 12-day history of stranguria. Six years previously, the cat had a bilateral perineal herniorrhaphy with cystopexy and pubic osteotomy. At presentation, survey radiographs and a positive-contrast vaginourethrocystogram were performed, which revealed cystolithiasis and recurrent bilateral perineal hernias with bladder retroflexion. A cystopexy was repeated, followed by bilateral perineal repairs using the internal obturator muscle flap transposition. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first reported case of a perineal hernia with recurrent bladder retroflexion after cystopexy diagnosed with positive-contrast vaginourethrocystogram in a female cat.

Artificial intelligence in veterinary diagnostic imaging: A literature review.

Artificial intelligence in veterinary medicine is an emerging field. Machine learning, a subfield of artificial intelligence, allows computer programs to analyze large imaging datasets and learn to perform tasks relevant to veterinary diagnostic imaging. This review summarizes the small, yet growing body of artificial intelligence literature in veterinary imaging, provides necessary background to understand these papers, and provides author commentary on the state of the field. To date, less than 40 peer-reviewed publications have utilized machine learning to perform imaging-associated tasks across multiple anatomic regions in veterinary clinical and biomedical research. Major challenges in this field include collection and cleaning of sufficient image data, selection of high-quality ground truth labels, formation of relationships between veterinary and machine learning professionals, and closure of the gap between academic uses of artificial intelligence and currently available commercial products. Further development of artificial intelligence has the potential to help meet the growing need for radiological services through applications in workflow, quality control, and image interpretation for both general practitioners and radiologists.

A Prevalence Study of Canine Humeral Condylar Fractures Over a Ten-Year Period at an Academic Teaching Hospital.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence, breed predisposition and fracture conformation of humeral condylar fractures (HCF) over a 10-year period. Results were compared with published studies emanating from the United Kingdom exploring effect of breed on HCF. METHODS: Data for all canine admissions to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital at Kansas State University were extracted for the period January 2010 to October 2020. Humeral fractures were recorded and further subclassified as medial, lateral and 'T'/'Y' condylar fractures. The associations between HCF and subtypes with breed were assessed using univariate logistic regression with a comparison group. Multivariable logistic regression was used to evaluate the effect of breed while accounting for dog age, sex and neuter status. RESULTS: Of the 44,952 canine patients seen during the study period, period prevalence (95% confidence interval [CI] for HCF was 0.26% [0.22, 0.31]). After adjustment for age and neuter status, French Bulldogs were 49 times more likely to be diagnosed with a HCF compared with the comparison breed group (odds ratio [OR], 49.0; 95% CI, 26.9-89.3). After adjustment for age and neuter status, Cocker Spaniels (OR, 42.8; 95% CI, 16.8-108.6), Boston Terriers (OR, 22.9; 95% CI, 11.0-47.9) and Brittany Spaniels (OR, 21.5; 95% CI, 7.3-63.1) had the next highest increase in HCF compared with the comparison group. CONCLUSION: Based on a study population from the United States, French Bulldogs were 49 times more likely to be diagnosed with a HCF compared with the comparison breed group.

CT can identify characteristic features of hypaxial muscle abscesses in dogs due to presumed migrating vegetal foreign material as well as additional changes along the migratory tract in other anatomic regions.

Hypaxial muscle abscess is an important differential in dogs presenting for abdominal or back pain, lameness, and nonspecific signs like fever, lethargy, and hyporexia. It can occur concurrently with intrathoracic disease such as pyothorax secondary to migrating vegetal foreign material. Twelve dogs that underwent CT of the lumbar spine or abdomen and had a diagnosed hypaxial abscess on surgical and/or microbiological examination were included in this retrospective, descriptive case series. Computed tomography findings and findings from other imaging modalities employed were described. Eleven dogs were hunting breeds. Clinical signs included lethargy, fever, increased respiratory effort, and abdominal or back pain. Radiography and/or ultrasonography were employed during preliminary work up at clinician discretion and respectively revealed changes consistent with osteomyelitis in the cranial lumbar vertebrae and heterogenous, hypoechoic areas in the hypaxial musculature consistent with abscesses. Computed tomography findings included enlargement of hypaxial muscles with well-defined fluid attenuating noncontrast enhancing areas with a contrast-enhancing rim consistent with abscesses, periosteal reaction and lysis of vertebrae, and retroperitoneal effusion. Four of the 12 cases in this series had material identified and removed at surgery. The other eight cases were presumed to be the same disease process based on compatible signalment, imaging findings, and microbiological results. Migrating vegetal foreign bodies are a common problem at the authors' institution. Computed tomography provided expedient, thorough visualization of the relevant hypaxial lesions for diagnostic and surgical planning purposes and also characterized intrathoracic components of this disease.

Association between computed tomographic thoracic injury scores and blood gas and acid-base balance in dogs with blunt thoracic trauma.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the association between thoracic injuries evaluated by computed tomography (CT) and arterial blood gas and acid-base status in dogs with blunt thoracic trauma caused by motor vehicle accidents. DESIGN: Prospective observational clinical study. SETTING: University teaching hospital. ANIMALS: Thirty-one client owned traumatized dogs and 15 healthy dogs. PROCEDURES: All trauma group dogs underwent a CT scan and simultaneous arterial blood gas analysis within 24 hours, but not before 4 hours, after the traumatic incident within a 45-month enrollment period. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Thorax injuries were classified as pulmonary, pleural space, or rib cage and each of these components was scored for severity using a CT composite pulmonary, pleural, and rib score. The trauma group arterial blood gas and acid-base status were evaluated for statistical difference from the control group. The pulmonary-arterial oxygen pressure was significantly lower in the trauma group compared to the control group that was supported by significant differences in the calculated variables of arterial blood oxygenation as well. There was also a significant correlation between the composite lung score and pleural score and the variables of arterial oxygen status. The pulmonary-arterial carbon dioxide pressure was not significantly different to any of the thoracic injury variables indicating normal alveolar ventilation. Acid-base imbalances were generally mild, insignificant, and variable. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Blunt thoracic trauma causes significant pulmonary and pleural injury and the blood oxygen economy is significantly affected by this. The functional measures of arterial blood oxygenation were well correlated with thoracic CT pathology. Alveolar ventilation was mostly spared but a clinically significant ventilation perfusion mismatch was present.

Triple phase dynamic computed tomographic perfusion characteristics of spirocercosis induced esophageal nodules in non-neoplastic versus neoplastic canine cases.

Neoplastic transformation of Spirocerca lupi induced esophageal nodules carries a poor prognosis. Clinical, clinicopathological, endoscopic, and radiographic characteristics may be indicative of neoplastic transformation but variable sensitivity and specificity of these parameters makes their use questionable. We hypothesized that CT would be a better diagnostic modality to discriminate between non-neoplastic and neoplastic nodules. In this prospective study of 38 dogs, the appearance and perfusion characteristics of confirmed spirocercosis-induced neoplastic and non-neoplastic esophageal nodules were described using survey CT and triple phase dynamic CT angiography (CTA). Pre- and post-contrast early arterial, late arterial, and venous CTA images were evaluated. Non-neoplastic nodules were smooth and nonmineralized with a higher proportion of hypoattenuating necropurulent cavities compared to neoplastic nodules that had a more irregular surface, with 93% having mineralized foci and rarely any hypoattenuating pockets. Non-neoplastic nodules were significantly more perfused than neoplastic nodules with the difference being up to 23 Hounsfield units. The difference was most marked in the early and late arterial phases (P = 0.0005 and 0.00005, respectively). Ratios of the normal esophagus adjacent to the neoplastic and non-neoplastic nodules did not differ significantly from each other. Perfusion findings demonstrated relative hypoperfusion of the esophageal sarcomas. Findings from the current study indicated that CT characteristics of relative postcontrast hypoperfusion, combined with nodule irregularity and mineralization warrant a high level of concern for neoplastic transformation in canine spirocercosis-induced esophageal nodules.

Computed tomographic and radiographic characteristics of aortic lesions in 42 dogs with spirocercosis.

Spirocerca lupi is a common cause of vomiting, regurgitation, and sudden death in dogs that live in tropical or subtropical regions. Sudden death due to aortic rupture may occur with no preceding clinical signs. The purpose of this prospective study was to compare radiographic and computed tomographic (CT) characteristics of aortic lesions in a cohort of 42 dogs with endoscopically confirmed spirocercosis. Dorsoventral and right lateral recumbent thoracic radiographic findings were compared with pre- and postcontrast thoracic CT findings. Aortic mineralization was detected using CT in 18/42 dogs (43%). Three dogs had faint diffuse aortic wall mineralization. Using CT as the reference standard, radiographs had a sensitivity and specificity of 6% and 96%, respectively, for detecting aortic mineralization. A total of 20 aortic aneurysms were detected using CT in 15/42 dogs (36%). Using CT as the reference standard, radiographs had a sensitivity and specificity of 86% and 56%, respectively, for detecting aortic aneurysms. Respiratory motion, aortic displacement by esophageal masses and Spirocerca nodules adjacent to the aorta mimicked aneurysm formation on radiographs. Aortic thrombi were seen in two dogs in postcontrast CT images. Findings from this study indicated that aortic mineralization and aneurysm formation are common in dogs with spirocercosis. Findings also supported the use of pre- and postcontrast CT as effective methods for detecting and characterizing these lesions.