Congenital Malformations of Vertebral Articular Processes in Dogs.

Articular process anomalies are considered congenital. Their occurrence in specific breeds may be indicative of undetermined genetics. Clinical significance varies and is interdependent upon location, function and anatomy. Etiology, uniform nomenclature and classification of vertebral articular process anomalies in the dog are lacking; however recent efforts are beginning to address this deficit. This author proposes that the term articular process dysplasia appropriately encompasses the spectrum of anomalies in severity as well as including those affecting both the cranial and caudal articular processes. The general category description of articular process dypslasia doesn't preclude, but rather allows for more specific designations.

Kyphosis and Kyphoscoliosis Associated with Congenital Malformations of the Thoracic Vertebral Bodies in Dogs.

Congenital malformations of the thoracic vertebral bodies are commonly encountered in veterinary practice. These anomalies are prevalent in juvenile and adult small-breed dogs. These anomalous vertebrae typically result in various degrees of kyphosis and scoliosis in the region of the abnormality. They are thought to occur following developmental errors during embryonic or fetal vertebral segmentation and ossification; most are incidental. This article focuses on those anomalies of the thoracic vertebral bodies that lead to clinical signs of neurologic dysfunction. Based on a limited number of reported cases, the prognosis for surgically managed dogs with thoracic vertebral body abnormalities is favorable.

Expert interpretation compensates for reduced image quality of camera-digitized images referred to radiologists.

We compared the accuracy of five veterinary radiologists when reading 20 radiographic cases on both analog film and in camera-digitized format. In addition, we compared the ability of five veterinary radiologists vs. 10 private practice veterinarians to interpret the analog images. Interpretation accuracy was compared using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. Veterinary radiologists' accuracy did not significantly differ between analog vs. camera-digitized images (P = 0.13) although sensitivity was higher for analog images. Radiologists' interpretation of both digital and analog images was significantly better compared with the private veterinarians (P < 0.05).

Prevalence of malignancy when solitary versus multiple lesions are detected during abdominal ultrasonographic examination of dogs with spontaneous hemoperitoneum: 31 cases (2003-2008).

OBJECTIVE: To compare the histopathologic diagnosis in dogs with spontaneous hemoperitoneum when abdominal ultrasonographic examination detects a solitary versus multiple lesions. DESIGN: Retrospective cross-sectional study. SETTING: Private veterinary hospital. ANIMALS: Client-owned dogs presented with spontaneous hemoperitoneum between March 1, 2003 and June 1, 2008. INTERVENTIONS: Dogs were divided into 2 groups based on presence of a solitary or multiple abdominal ultrasonographic lesions. Prevalences were compared between groups for malignancy and specifically hemangiosarcoma. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Ten of 31 (32%) dogs had a solitary abdominal ultrasonographic lesion and 21 of 31 (68%) had more than 1 lesion. The bleeding tissue was characterized as malignant in 8 of 10 (80%) dogs with solitary lesions and 17 of 21 (81%) dogs with multiple lesions; there was no significant difference (P=1.0) between groups. In this study no association (P=0.26) was found between the number of abdominal ultrasonographic lesions observed and subsequent diagnosis of hemangiosarcoma. CONCLUSIONS: Solitary abdominal ultrasonographic lesions in dogs with spontaneous hemoperitoneum do not necessarily indicate a lower prevalence of malignancy.

Use of computed tomography renal angiography for screening feline renal transplant donors.

Preoperative knowledge of the renal vascular anatomy is important for selection of the appropriate feline renal donor. Intravenous urograms (IVUs) have been performed routinely to screen potential donors at the Veterinary Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (VHUP), but the vascular phase views lack sufficient detail of the renal vascular anatomy. Computed tomography angiography (CTA), which requires a helical computed tomography (CT) scanner, has been found to provide superior renal vascular anatomic information of prospective human renal donors. The specific aims of this study were as follows: 1) develop the CTA technique for the feline patient; and 2) obtain preliminary information on feline renal vessel anatomy in potential renal donors. Ten healthy, potential feline renal donors were anesthetized and imaged using a third-generation helical CT scanner. The time delay between i.v. contrast medium injection and image acquisition, and other parameters of slice collimation, slice interval, pitch, exposure settings, and reconstruction algorithms were varied to maximize contrast medium opacification of the renal vascular anatomy. Optimal CTA acquisition parameters were determined to be: 1) 10-sec delay post-i.v. bolus of iodinated contrast medium; 2) two serially acquired (corresponding to arterial and venous phases) helical scans through the renal vasculature; 3) pitch of 2 (4 mm/sec patient translation, 2 mm slice collimation); and 4) 120-kVp, 160-mA, and 1-sec exposure settings. Retrospective reconstructed CTA transverse images obtained at a 2-mm slice width and a 1-mm slice interval in combination with two-dimensional reformatted images and three-dimensional reconstructed images were qualitatively evaluated for vascular anatomy; vascular anatomy was confirmed at surgery. Four cats had single renal arteries and veins bilaterally; four cats had double renal veins. One cat had a small accessory artery supplying the caudal pole of the left kidney. One cat had a left renal artery originating from the aorta at a 90 degrees angle with the cranial mesenteric artery. CTA of the feline renal vascular anatomy is feasible, and reconstruction techniques provide excellent anatomic vascular detail. CTA is now used routinely at VHUP to screen all potential feline renal donors.