Anatomy of the sternum and humerus in the domestic chicken (Gallus domesticus).

Injuries of the sternum and humerus are an important welfare concern in domestic chickens (Gallus domesticus), especially laying hens. Published anatomic references using standardized terminology from the Nomina Anatomica Avium (NAA) are lacking. Objectives of the current retrospective, descriptive study were to provide a user-friendly hierarchical table of NAA-compliant anatomic terms and labeled images illustrating anatomic structures for the sternum and humerus of domestic chickens.

Qualitative and quantitative computed tomographic characteristics of the lumbosacral spine in German Shepherd military working dogs with versus without lumbosacral pain.

Lumbosacral (LS) stenosis is a cause of lower back pain, loss of mission readiness, and early retirement in military working dogs (MWDs). Aims of the present two-part study were to evaluate a sample of German Shepherd MWDs using standard clinical criteria for LS pain, standard qualitative computed tomographic (CT) criteria for LS stenosis, novel quantitative CT criteria for LS stenosis, and novel behavioral classification criteria for LS pain. Data were retrieved from archives of a tertiary referral MWD hospital.

Computed Tomographic Measures of Funnel-Shaped Lumbar Vertebral Canal and Articular Process Dysplasia Malformations Differ Between German Shepherd and Belgian Malinois Military Working Dogs.

Researchers who study the selection and breeding program criteria for military working dogs aim to help maximize the years of active duty service. Computed tomographic (CT) quantitative phenotyping has been previously described as a method for supporting these research studies. Funnel-shaped lumbar vertebral foramen malformations have been previously described in Labrador retriever military working dogs and proposed to be risk factors for impaired arterial perfusion of nerve tissues during exercise.

CT measures of lumbosacral paraspinal muscle size are not correlated with CT measures of lumbosacral stability in military working Labrador Retrievers.

Management of degenerative lumbosacral stenosis in military working dogs more frequently utilizes core conditioning exercise programs. Future research on the effectiveness of these programs may benefit from an improved understanding of relationships between paraspinal muscle size and lumbosacral stability. The aim of this retrospective, secondary analysis, cross-sectional study was to test the following hypotheses related to CT measures: (a) transverse paraspinal muscle area ratios differ between hip flexion and extension, (b) lumbosacral angle and lumbosacral range of motion differ by lumbosacral angle measurement technique, and (c) transverse paraspinal muscle area ratios are correlated with CT measures of lumbosacral stability (parasagittal and parasagittal oblique foraminal area changes) regardless of hip position and with lumbosacral range of motion within each hip position.

User opinions for the Veterinary Radiology & Ultrasound journal differ among demographic groups.

Meeting the changing needs of journal users is important for veterinary editors. The objective of this prospective survey study was to analyze user opinions for the journal Veterinary Radiology & Ultrasound. An online survey was developed based on a consensus among the journal's Editor-in-Chief and Editorial Board members, an industrial organizational psychologist, Executive Council members for the journal's owner organization, representatives of the journal's publisher, and members of the authors' University Institutional Review Board.

Lumbosacral stenosis in Labrador retriever military working dogs - an exomic exploratory study.

Background: Canine lumbosacral stenosis is defined as narrowing of the caudal lumbar and/or sacral vertebral canal. A risk factor for neurologic problems in many large sized breeds, lumbosacral stenosis can also cause early retirement in Labrador retriever military working dogs. Though vital for conservative management of the condition, early detection is complicated by the ambiguous nature of clinical signs of lumbosacral stenosis in stoic and high-drive Labrador retriever military working dogs.

Phenotyping of lumbosacral stenosis in Labrador retrievers using computed tomography.

Deep phenotyping tools for characterizing preclinical morphological conditions are important for supporting genetic research studies. Objectives of this retrospective, cross-sectional, methods comparison study were to describe and compare qualitative and quantitative deep phenotypic characteristics of lumbosacral stenosis in Labrador retrievers using computed tomography (CT). Lumbosacral CT scans and medical records were retrieved from data archives at three veterinary hospitals.

Feasibility for Measuring Transverse Area Ratios and Asymmetry of Lumbosacral Region Paraspinal Muscles in Working Dogs Using Computed Tomography.

Objectives: Describe computed tomographic (CT) anatomy of canine lumbosacral (LS) paraspinal muscles, a method for measuring paraspinal muscle transverse area ratios and asymmetry using CT, and application of this method in a small sample of working dogs with versus without LS pain.

Methods: Published anatomy references and atlases were reviewed and discrepancies were resolved by examination of anatomic specimens and multiplanar reformatted images to describe transverse CT anatomy of LS region paraspinal muscles. Sixteen Belgian malinois military working dogs were retrospectively recruited and assigned to LS pain positive versus negative groups based on medical record entries.

Survival time following hospital discharge in dogs with palliatively treated primary brain tumors.

Objective: To analyze survival time and identify prognostic factors associated with outcome following discharge in dogs with primary brain tumors treated palliatively.

Design: Prospective case series.

Animals: 51 dogs with 5 histopathologic types of brain tumors.

Feasibility and accuracy of ultrasound-guided sacroiliac joint injection in dogs.

Frozen cadaver specimens from three dogs were used to create a sectional anatomic atlas of the sacroiliac region. Frozen/thawed cadaver specimens from 12 dogs were used to develop an ultrasound-guided sacroiliac joint injection technique. Accuracy of the technique was tested in 15 additional canine cadaver specimens, using injectate containing blue dye and iodinated contrast medium.

Comparison of four ventilatory protocols for computed tomography of the thorax in healthy cats.

Objective: To identify ventilatory protocols that yielded good image quality for thoracic CT and hemodynamic stability in cats. Animals-7 healthy cats.

Procedures: Cats were anesthetized and ventilated via 4 randomized protocols (hyperventilation, 20 seconds [protocol 1]; single deep inspiration, positive inspiratory pressure of 15 cm H(2)O [protocol 2]; recruitment maneuver [protocol 3]; and hyperventilation, 20 seconds with a positive end-expiratory pressure of 5 cm H(2)O [protocol 4]).

Sensitivity of low-field T2 images for detecting the presence and severity of histopathologic meniscal lesions in dogs.

The sensitivity of low-field magnetic resonance (MR) T2 images for predicting the presence of meniscal lesions was determined in 12 dogs with naturally-occurring cranial cruciate ligament rupture and three control dogs, using histopathology as the reference standard. Previously published grading systems were used to grade the severity of meniscal lesions on MR images, gross inspection and histopathology. Focal areas of increased signal intensity were detected in 11/12 symptomatic dogs and 3/3 control dogs.

Imaging diagnosis--Dorsal mediastinal T-cell lymphoma in an alpaca.

A 14-year-old male alpaca had refractory pleural effusion. The cause of the effusion was not apparent either radiographically or sonographically, or following a pleural fluid cytologic examination. Using computed tomographic (CT) examination, a dorsal paravertebral mass was identified and similar masses were found in the cranial mediastinum, retroperitoneal space, and adjacent to the hepatic entry of the portal vein.

Validation of multi-detector computed tomography as a non-invasive method for measuring ovarian volume in macaques (Macaca fascicularis).

The purpose of this study was to validate low radiation dose, contrast-enhanced, multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT) as a non-invasive method for measuring ovarian volume in macaques. Computed tomography scans of four known-volume phantoms and nine mature female cynomolgus macaques were acquired using a previously described, low radiation dose scanning protocol, intravenous contrast enhancement, and a 32-slice MDCT scanner. Immediately following MDCT, ovaries were surgically removed and the ovarian weights were measured.

Computed tomographic and cross-sectional anatomic characterization of myofascial compartments and soft tissue spaces in the manus in cadavers of dogs without forelimb disease.

Objective: To characterize the computed tomographic (CT) and cross-sectional anatomic features of myofascial compartments and soft tissue spaces in the manus of cadavers of dogs without forelimb disease.

Animals: 33 cadavers of adult medium- to large-breed dogs without forelimb disease.

Procedures: Forelimbs were removed from the cadavers within 4 hours after euthanasia or within 6 hours after thawing from initial freezing.

Gestational high saturated fat diet alters C57BL/6 mouse perinatal skeletal formation.

Background: Our present work joins growing evidence that gestational environment (maternal nutrition, health, and chemical exposures) strongly influences prenatal development (www.thebarkertheory.org).

Effect of multi-planar CT image reformatting on surgeon diagnostic performance for localizing thoracolumbar disc extrusions in dogs.

Accurate pre-operative localization and removal of disc material are important for minimizing morbidity in dogs with thoracolumbar disc extrusions. Computed tomography (CT) is an established technique for localizing disc extrusions in dogs, however the effect of multi-planar reformatting (MPR) on surgeon diagnostic performance has not been previously described. The purpose of this study was to test the effect of MPR CT on surgeon diagnostic accuracy, certainty and agreement for localizing thoracolumbar disc extrusions in dogs.

Micro-CT evaluation of murine fetal skeletal development yields greater morphometric precision over traditional clear-staining methods.

Traditional techniques for quantification of murine fetal skeletal development (gross measurements, clear-staining) are severely limited by specimen processing, soft tissue presence, diffuse staining, and unclear landmarks between which to make measurements. Nondestructive microcomputed tomography (micro-CT) imaging is a versatile, well-documented tool traditionally used to generate high-resolution 3-D images and quantify microarchitectural parameters of trabecular bone. Although previously described as a tool for phenotyping fetal murine specimens, micro-CT has not previously been used to directly measure individual fetal skeletal structures.

Effects of body position and clinical signs on L7-S1 intervertebral foraminal area and lumbosacral angle in dogs with lumbosacral disease as measured via computed tomography.

Objective: To measure effects of dog position on L7-S1 intervertebral foraminal area and lumbosacral (LS) angle by means of computed tomography (CT) and determine whether changes in values between positions are associated with clinical signs in dogs with LS disease.

Animals: 86 dogs examined via a positional CT protocol that included flexion and extension scans of L7-S1.

Procedures: Archived CT images and medical records were reviewed.

Comparison of ultrasound, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging in detection of acute wooden foreign bodies in the canine manus.

We evaluated the diagnostic sensitivity of ultrasound, nonenhanced computed tomography (CT) and nonenhanced magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in detecting wooden foreign bodies in the canine manus. Identical wooden splinters were manually inserted into 30 cadaver canine manus, and the limbs were evaluated using ultrasound, CT, and MR imaging by independent observers. All sites were rated as positive or negative for the presence of a foreign body, and observer certainty was scored on a 1-10 scale.

Multidetector computed tomographic morphology of ovaries in cynomolgus macaques (Macaca fascicularis).

Macaques are important models for menopause and associated diseases in women. A sensitive, noninvasive technique for quantifying changes in ovarian morphology would facilitate longitudinal studies focused on the health-related sequelae of naturally occurring or experimentally induced alterations in ovarian structure and function. Multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) is a fast, non-invasive imaging technique that uses X-rays, multiple rows of detectors, and computers to generate detailed slice images of structures.

Effect of computed tomography display window and image plane on diagnostic certainty for characteristics of dysplastic elbow joints in dogs.

Objective: To test the effects of computed tomography (CT) image plane and window settings on diagnostic certainty for CT characteristics associated with dysplastic elbow joints (elbow joint dysplasia) in dogs and to provide optimal display guidelines for these CT characteristics.

Sample Population: CT images of 50 dysplastic elbow joints from 49 lame dogs and 10 elbow joints from 5 sound dogs.

Procedures: CT image data were obtained in transverse, sagittal, and dorsal planes.