Advances in Equine Diagnostic Imaging

how different types of image qualities vary between scanners.
There is a difference in image quality for CT scanners and what can and cannot be scanned she says. CT is used for dentition in the skull and fracture evaluation. Soft tissue detail isnt as good as the MRI but the bone detail is superior.
Softtissue injuries present a puzzle especially in cases of lameness. MRI first performed on horses in the late 1990s benefitted from early clinical use but shot to the top of imaging modalities in the past five years. Today MRI is considered the gold standard of diagnostic imaging for soft tissue and orthopedic injuries by using magnetic fields and radiofrequency pulses to generate images.
Puchalski notes that the particular benefit of the MRI rests in diagnosing the source of lameness.
For example inside the hoof capsule you cannot evaluate tendons and ligaments she says. MRI opened the door for a whole range of new injury diagnoses allowing specific target therapies. Garrett concurs.
With the MRI we obtain detailed information about an entire region she explains. Deep digital flexor tendon tears navicular bone inflammation bone bruising and coffin joint arthritis have different treatments and prognoses. We can diagnose and treat each more specifically and hopefully have better outcomes.
Bone Scans and PET Scans
Nuclear scintigraphy bone scan employs radioactive isotopes which when injected emit radioactive gamma rays. A special camera documents twodimensional images of skeletal anatomy showing areas with increased metabolic activity.
Reactive sites light up as hot spots to identify sources of lameness or other injuries. Evaluating a tissues physiology or what is occurring inside the tissue distinguishes the bone scan from other methods.
Scintigraphy according to Puchalski allows a clinician not only to identify sites that may not be clinically evident but provides an opportunity to use diseasemodifying agents earlier.
Hock arthritis shows up on scintigraphy

early she says. Scintigraphy also allows us to evaluate the neck back and pelvis. A higher degree of radioactivity in an area means more active bone turnover inflammation or injury.
Mathieu Spriet DVM M S. Dipl. ACVR Dipl. ECVDI Dipl. ACVREDI associate professor of Diagnostic Imaging at the University of CaliforniaDavis School of Veterinary Medicine recalls the trajectory of equine imaging during his lifetime.
When I was in graduate school in France the only imaging modalities we had were Xray and ultrasound he recalls. In the last 25 years weve had digital radiographs CT and MRI. Im excited to contribute another piece