Dynamic computed tomographic determination of scan delay for use in performing cardiac angiography in clinically normal dogs.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the scan delay for use in performing cardiac CT angiography in dogs. ANIMALS: 4 clinically normal adult Beagles. PROCEDURES: In a crossover study, 12 formulations of iohexol solutions differing in iodine dose (300, 400, and 800 mg/kg) and concentration (undiluted and diluted 1:1, 1:2, and 1:3 with saline [0.9% NaCl] solution) were administered IV to each dog. Dynamic CT angiography was performed to evaluate enhancement characteristics of each formulation, with the region of interest set over the aorta. Time-attenuation curves (TACs) were obtained and analyzed. RESULTS: Peak arc-type TACs were obtained after administration of all undiluted formulations. Curve shape changed from peak arc type to plateau type as the total volume of the contrast solution (ie, dilution) increased. Prolonged peaks characteristic of plateau-type TACs suggested that a sufficient period of homogeneous attenuation could be achieved for CT scanning with administration of higher iohexol dilutions (1:2 or 1:3) containing higher iodine doses (400 or 800 mg/kg). In particular, attenuation values for plateau-type TACs remained between 200 and 300 Hounsfield units for > 16 seconds after the plateau endpoint was reached for 1:2 and 1:3 dilutions containing an iodine dose of 800 mg/kg. Scan delays of 13 to 17 seconds were computed for those 2 formulations. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggested that for clinically normal dogs, a scan delay of 13 to 17 seconds could be used to perform cardiac CT angiography with iohexol solutions containing an iodine dose of 800 mg/kg at dilutions of 1:2 or 1:3.

Effect of region of interest and slice thickness on vertebral bone mineral density measured by use of quantitative computed tomography in dogs.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of region of interest (ROI) setting and slice thickness on trabecular bone mineral density (BMD) measured with quantitative CT in dogs. ANIMALS: 14 healthy Beagles. PROCEDURES: CT of the lumbar vertebrae and a quantitative CT phantom was performed. The BMD of trabecular bone was measured from L1 to L7 in 2 ways in all dogs. First, sequential 9.6-mm-thick CT images were acquired and then CT images were reconstructed into transverse CT images with slice thicknesses of 2.4, 4.8, and 9.6 mm. The obtained images were analyzed by circular ROI and trace ROI methods. Second, lumbar vertebrae were scanned with the installed quantitative CT protocol with a slice thickness of 10 mm and then the CT images were analyzed by installed automatic BMD software. RESULTS: Interclass correlation coefficients of the automatic software (0.975 to 1.0) and the circular method (0.871 to 0.996) were high, compared with those of the trace method (0.582 to 0.996). The BMD measured with the automatic software was not significantly different from that measured with circular ROI and a slice thickness of 9.6 mm. The BMD measured by use of the circular method was not different according to slice thickness. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results obtained by use of automatic software were similar to those obtained by use of more manual methods. The CT images with thinner slice thickness (2.4 and 4.8 mm) could be used in dogs of toy and small breeds to measure lumbar vertebrae BMD to reduce the limitations of the standard 10-mm slice thickness.

Computed tomography angiography of situs inversus, portosystemic shunt and multiple vena cava anomalies in a dog.

A 5-year-old Shih Tzu was presented with intermittent vomiting and anorexia. Microhepatica and reversed position of the abdominal organs were observed on radiography. Ultrasonographically, portosystemic shunt (PSS) was tentatively diagnosed. Computed tomography (CT) revealed that the distended portal vein drained into the left hepatic vein. The caudal vena cava (CdVC) split postrenally and converged at the renal level. Cranial to this, the azygos continuation of the CdVC was confirmed. In the thorax, a persistent left cranial vena cava (CrVC) was found along with right CrVC. This is the first report of a dog with persistent left CrVC and multiple abdominal malformations. CT angiography was useful in evaluating the characteristics of each vascular anomaly and determining the required surgical correction in this complex case.