Scintigraphic evaluation of the stifle in normal horses and horses with forelimb lameness.

We tested the hypotheses that mature horses without lameness have a repeatable radiopharmaceutical uptake pattern in the stifle, which is bilaterally symmetric; immature horses have a different radiopharmaceutical uptake pattern; and forelimb lameness alters the radiopharmaceutical uptake pattern in the stifle. The objectives of the study were to describe the normal radiopharmaceutical uptake patterns using region of interest (ROI) analysis; to compare uptake patterns between left and right stifles of the same horse and between mature and immature horses; to compare radiopharmaceutical uptake in mature normal horses with those with forelimb lameness. Lateral scintigraphic images of the stifle from 51 horses aged 2-16 years were evaluated using seven ROIs and a reference site (midfemur).

Scintigraphic evaluation of the proximal metacarpal and metatarsal regions of horses with proximal suspensory desmitis.

The aim of the study was to characterize radiopharmaceutical uptake patterns in horses with clinical and ultrasonographic evidence of proximal suspensory desmitis. It was hypothesized that radiopharmaceutical uptake in the proximal palmar (plantar) aspect of the third metacarpal (metatarsal) bone would be greater in lame limbs of horses with proximal suspensory desmitis than in sound limbs and that there would be a positive correlation between the severity of ultrasonographic abnormalities and the degree of radiopharmaceutical uptake. Nuclear scintigraphic evaluation of the proximal metacarpal or metatarsal regions of 126 horses with ultrasonographic evidence of proximal suspensory desmitis was performed.

Scintigraphic evaluation of the proximal metacarpal and metatarsal regions in clinically sound horses.

In recent years, pain arising from the proximal metacarpal and metatarsal regions has become well recognized as a cause of lameness and various disease entities have been identified. However, our knowledge of normal patterns of radiopharmaceutical uptake is limited, making interpretation of images problematic. It is therefore important to characterize normal patterns of radiopharmaceutical uptake at specific sites to ensure valid interpretation of images in clinical cases with subtle lesions.

Scintigraphic evaluation of the distal tarsal region in horses with distal tarsal pain.

Distal tarsal pain is a common reason for hind limb lameness, but diagnosis cannot always be made on radiographic examination. Scintigraphy may allow detection of subtle changes undetected by other diagnostic methods. We hypothesized that (1) distal tarsal pain would be associated with a loss of the expected pattern of radiopharmaceutical uptake (RU) detected in normal horses, (2) distal tarsal RU would be greater in limbs with tarsal pain than without pain, (3) RU in painful tarsi with radiographic evidence of osteoarthritis (OA) would be greater than in distal tarsal pain with no radiographic evidence of OA.

Nuclear scintigraphic evaluation of the distal tarsal region in normal horses.

Bone-phase scintigraphy is sensitive to the dynamic process of bone modeling and remodeling, which may be adaptive or pathologic. Our knowledge of normal patterns of radiopharmaceutical uptake (RU) is limited, making interpretation of images problematic. It is therefore important to characterize normal patterns of RU at specific sites and relate these to age and exercise, to ensure valid interpretation of images in clinical cases with subtle lesions.

Scintigraphic evaluation of metacarpophalangeal and metatarsophalangeal joints in clinically sound horses.

The purpose of this study was to describe the pattern of radiopharmaceutical uptake in the metacarpophalangeal (MCP) and metatarsophalangeal (MTP) (fetlock) joints in clinically sound horses. Scintigraphic images from 29 clinically normal horses were evaluated. All the images were assessed subjectively.