The canine trochanteric fossa: a radiographic and anatomic study.

Radiographic features of the region of the trochanteric fossa were evaluated bilaterally on 175 ventrodorsal radiographs of canine hip joints and findings were compared to anatomic specimens. The fossa showed a variable radiographic appearance, which was affected by positioning and anatomic diversity. On a small number of radiographs (n = 12), the trochanteric fossa was clearly defined as a circular area of radiopacity surrounded by a radiolucent halo. This appearance was significantly influenced by medial rotation of the femur (P < 0.001). On some anatomic specimens an irregular protuberance representing the site of attachment of the gemelli, internal and external obturator muscles was seen within the fossa, surrounded by a variable number of small openings, which were thought to be nutrient foramina. Dissection identified a small number of minor branches of the medial circumflex femoral artery entering these.

Diagnosis of atrophic rhinitis in a Simmental heifer by computed tomography.

Atrophic rhinitis was diagnosed in a 10-month-old heifer with the assistance of computed tomography. The aetiology of the condition in cattle is uncertain and the clinical disease may be overlooked owing to the lack of signs such as the shortening or deformity of the snout observed in pigs.

Gadolinium determination in tissue samples by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry in evaluation of the action of magnetic resonance imaging contrast agents.

The quantitative determination of Gd-containing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents in animal tissues is performed by both ICP-AES and ICP-MS. While ICP-AES has been used to determine Gd-containing contrast agents by other workers, no published methodology has been found. An accurate and precise method using nitric acid and microwave digestion for sample preparation is described. Dosed rat tissue, blood and plasma were measured by both ICP-AES and ICP-MS. The ICP-AES method is excellent for screening Gd levels and quantitative determination of concentrations above 400 ng ml-1, but it lacks the sensitivity to measure agent concentrations in low dose MRI studies. This work demonstrates that ICP-MS has the needed sensitivity to replace radiotracer methods currently used for low dose studies, while maintaining the accuracy and precision of results obtained by ICP-AES. Gadolinium detection limits in tissue were 0.04 mumol of Gd per kg of tissue, an order of magnitude lower than studies using radiotracer techniques.