Computed tomographic features of exocrine pancreatic carcinomas in dogs and cats.

Exocrine pancreatic carcinomas are uncommon in dogs and cats, and diagnosis with diagnostic imaging can be challenging. This retrospective, multi-institutional, descriptive study was performed to evaluate the CT features of exocrine pancreatic carcinomas. The CT examinations of 18 dogs and 12 cats with exocrine pancreatic carcinomas diagnosed by cytology or histopathology were reviewed. The CT features of exocrine pancreatic carcinomas included a well-defined mass in 28/30 (93%) with contrast enhancement in 27/30 (90%), commonly heterogeneous 22/30 (73%); often with a nonenhancing fluid to soft tissue attenuating center 12/30 (40%). The right lobe of the pancreas was the most common location, 14/30 (47%), then the left lobe, 10/30 (33%), and the body, 6/30 (20%). Extrahepatic biliary duct dilation was present in six animals; 5/6 (83%) of the masses were located in the right pancreatic lobe. Additional findings included peripancreatic fat-stranding 17/30 (57%), lymphadenopathy 16/30 (57%), peripancreatic soft tissue nodules 12/30 (40%), and free fluid 10/30 (33%). When comparing the imaging features of dogs and cats, there was a large overlap in imaging characteristics. There was a significant difference between the height of the masses, with dogs having larger masses (P-value.0028). Lymphadenopathy was more likely in larger masses [increased height (P-value.029)]. Cats were significantly older than dogs (P-value.0355). Pancreatic carcinomas were commonly identified as masses with heterogeneous contrast enhancement and a nonenhancing fluid to soft tissue attenuating center with concurrent peripancreatic changes (fat-stranding and/or soft tissue nodules) and lymphadenopathy.

Pathognomonic thoracic radiographic findings are lacking in cats with acute Cytauxzoonosis.

Cytauxzoon felis is a tick-borne haemoprotozoan parasite that often causes fatal disease in domestic cats. Histological studies have described substantial pulmonary pathology due to cytauxzoonosis. Published reports were not found describing the thoracic radiographic signs associated with acute cytauxzoonosis in cats. The purpose of this retrospective descriptive study was to describe thoracic radiographic findings in a group of felines with confirmed acute cytauxzoonosis. A total of 37 cats with confirmed cytauxzoonosis and with available thoracic radiographs were included. A subset of 7 cats in this sample also had histopathologic evaluation of their lung parenchyma. Thoracic radiographs were retrieved and reviewed. A bronchial pulmonary pattern was identified as the most common finding (n = 27/37; 73%). Other radiographic findings included cardiomegaly (n = 19/37; 51%), interstitial pattern (n = 17/37; 46%), pleural effusion (n = 12/37; 32%), arterial vascular distension (n = 10/37; 27%), arterial and venous distension (n = 10/37; 27%), and venous distension (n = 1/37; 3%). The primary histological features present in 7 cats with additional histopathologic evaluation, similar to previously published studies, were vascular occlusion. Our study suggests that, despite severe histologic evidence of disease, there are no pathognomonic thoracic radiographic findings in cats with acute cytauxzoonosis.

Computed tomography in two recumbencies aides in the identification of pulmonary bullae in dogs with spontaneous pneumothorax.

Spontaneous pneumothorax presents a unique diagnostic and therapeutic challenge in veterinary medicine, specifically with regard to accurate identification of bullous lesions. Positioning of dogs with spontaneous pneumothorax during CT has not previously been evaluated. This retrospective, diagnostic accuracy study was performed to evaluate the sensitivity, positive predictive value (PPV), and interobserver variability for detection of pulmonary bullae with dogs positioned in multiple recumbencies. Dogs underwent CT in sternal and dorsal recumbency followed by thoracic exploration via median sternotomy. Three American College of Veterinary Radiology-certified veterinary radiologists blinded to surgical findings reviewed dorsal and sternal images simultaneously. Severity of pneumothorax, degree of atelectasis, lesion location and size, and view in which lesions were most confidently identified were compared to surgical and histologic findings. Sensitivities and PPVs for bulla detection ranged from 57.7% to 69.2% and 62.1% to 78.9%, respectively. For two of the 3 radiologists, the location of bullae in the thorax was significantly associated with the recumbency in which the lesion was best identified. Degree of atelectasis was found to be associated with the ability to identify lesions (P ≤ .02). The interobserver variability for identification was good (κ = 0.670). The sensitivity of CT when performed in both sternal and dorsal recumbency is similar to that previously reported. Because the distribution of bullae is unknown prior to advanced imaging and bulla location affects which recumbency is most useful for identification, acquisition of CT images in both sternal and dorsal recumbency may improve detection of bullous lesions and aid surgical planning.

Traumatic skull fractures in dogs and cats: A comparative analysis of neurological and computed tomographic features.

BACKGROUND: Traumatic skull fractures (TSF) are relatively frequent in dogs and cats, but little information is available regarding their clinical and imaging features. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES: To describe the neurological and computed tomographic (CT) features of a large cohort of dogs and cats with TSF. ANIMALS: Ninety-one dogs and 95 cats with TSF identified on CT. METHODS: Multicenter retrospective comparative study. Signalment, cause of trauma, fracture locations and characteristics, presence of neurological deficits, and 1-week survival were recorded. Fractures were classified according to the extent of fragmentation and displacement. RESULTS: The cranial vault was affected more frequently in dogs (P = .003), whereas the face and base of the cranium more often was affected in cats (P < .001). Cats presented with multiple fractures more frequently (P < .001). All animals with TSF in the cranial vault were more likely to develop neurological signs (P = .02), especially when depressed fractures were present (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.7-8.2; P = .001). Animals with TSF located only in the facial region were less likely to have neurological signs (odds ratio with Mantel-Haenszel's method [ORMH ], 0.2; 95% CI, 0.1-0.6; P = .004). Most affected animals (84.9%) survived the first week post-trauma. Death was more likely with fractures of the cranial vault (P = .003), especially when fragmented (P = .007) and displaced (P = .004). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Traumatic skull fracture distribution and patterns are different between dogs and cats. Cranial vault fractures were associated with neurological deficits and worse survival. The presence of TSF alone should not be considered a negative prognostic factor because most affected animals survived the first week.

Canine and feline abdominal arterioportal communications can be classified based on branching patterns in computed tomographic angiography.

Arterioportal vascular anomalies are communications between the splanchnic arteries and the portal system that represent a rare cause of presinusoidal portal hypertension in small animals. There is little information concerning the imaging findings of arterioportal communications in small animals and no classification could be found for radiologists and surgeons. The aims of this retrospective descriptive multicentric study were to describe the computed tomographic characteristics of arterioportal communications in a group of cats and dogs, and to propose a classification based on computed tomography (CT) angiographic anatomy. Computed tomography databases from multiple veterinary hospitals were searched for cats and dogs with a diagnosis of arterioportal communication. A total of 36 animals (33 dogs, three cats) met the inclusion criteria. There were 32 intrahepatic arterioportal malformations and four extrahepatic fistulae. The intrahepatic arterioportal malformations were classified as right divisional (11/32) and left divisional (21/32), and the left divisional were subclassified as left medial (16/21) and left lateral (4/21). One patient showed multiple intrahepatic arterioportal communications with concomitant left medial and left lateral conformations. Two patients with intrahepatic arteriovenous malformation showed concomitant congenital intrahepatic shunts. The proposed anatomical classification based on CT angiography could allow veterinary radiologists to have a more systematic approach and help improve the radiologist-surgeon communication.

Sinonasal aspergillosis: Outcome after topical treatment in dogs with cribriform plate lysis.

BACKGROUND: Cribriform lysis has been considered a contraindication for topical treatment of sinonasal aspergillosis (SNA) because of concerns about drug extravasation with resultant neurologic signs or death. OBJECTIVE/HYPOTHESIS: To describe dogs with SNA and cribriform plate lysis treated with topical antifungal medications. Our hypothesis was that the conventional dogma that topical therapy should be avoided in these cases is incorrect. ANIMALS: Nine client-owned dogs with SNA and lysis of the cribriform plate, lysis of the floor of a frontal sinus or both detected by computed tomography (CT). METHODS: A retrospective review of medical records was performed. Dogs that met inclusion criteria (ie, SNA confirmed by at least 1 laboratory test, braincase affected on CT, and topical treatment applied) were included. Size of lesions, ancillary diagnostic test results, topical therapy, and adjuvant PO treatments were recorded. Outcome was determined by phone calls. RESULTS: Four dogs were alive at the time of the manuscript submission with follow-up ranging from 188 to 684 days without neurological signs observed. All dogs were discharged without major complication 1-7 days postoperatively. One dog that had presented with a history of seizures experienced seizure activity 2 months after treatment. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Topical therapy did not result in complications in these dogs in which lytic regions as large as 16 × 22 mm2 were noted. Sinonasal aspergillosis associated lysis of the cribriform plate; lysis of the floor of a frontal sinus or both detected on CT is not necessarily a contraindication to topical therapy.