Computed tomographic examinations are valuable in diagnosing diseases where more commonly used imaging modalities do not provide a diagnosis or enough information to fully evaluate and make an accurate diagnosis.  CT scanners are now more readily available and are within the economic resources of many clients.  Careful selection of cases to receive CT examinations is important, and knowledge of what diagnostic information can be provided is essential in working up the diagnostic protocol for animal patients.  This will often provide a level of health care many clients are seeking for their animals.

Clinical Uses.

Knowledge of clinical uses for computed tomography is important to provide the best options and high quality health care for patients. Discussion below is limited to a listing of various conditions that are amenable to diagnosis with computed tomography.

Nervous System.

CT scanning is useful to diagnose brain lesions, spinal lesions within vertebra, the spinal canal or spinal cord and lumbosacral degenerative disease. To detect lesions in nervous tissue, a pre and post-contrast examination should be performed. Lesions detectable in the brain are neoplasms, encephalitis, granulomatous meningeoncephalitis, infarcts (ischemic and hemorrhagic), edema and hemorrhage. Lesions in the spine include herniated intervertebral disc, neoplasia in the vertebra or spinal cord, syringomyelia discospondylitis and variations of lumboscacral instability and nerve root compression.

Nasal Cavity and Paranasal Sinuses.

Knowledge of clinical uses for computed tomography is important to provide the best options and high quality health care for patients. Discussion below is limited to a listing of various conditions that are amenable to diagnosis with computed tomography.

Nervous System.

CT scanning is useful to diagnose brain lesions, spinal lesions within vertebra, the spinal canal or spinal cord and lumbosacral degenerative disease. To detect lesions in nervous tissue, a pre and post-contrast examination should be performed. Lesions detectable in the brain are neoplasms, encephalitis, granulomatous meningeoncephalitis, infarcts (ischemic and hemorrhagic), edema and hemorrhage. Lesions in the spine include herniated intervertebral disc, neoplasia in the vertebra or spinal cord, syringomyelia discospondylitis and variations of lumboscacral instability and nerve root compression.

Nasal Cavity and Paranasal Sinuses.

Neoplasia and infectious rhinitis/sinusitis are the most common diagnoses in the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses. Compared with radiography, CT provides superior sensitivity for diagnosing neoplasia. The extent of the disease can also be evaluated, which will aid possible treatment planning, i.e., surgical or radiation therapy. Rhinitis/sinusitis can be diagnosed and further classified as acute or chronic based on the changes observed on the CT scan. Differentiation of acute and chronic changes is important because conservative treatment of chronic rhinitis/sinusitis is usually not successful.

Orbits.

Neopasia retrobulbar abscesses, salivary gland cysts and myositis of intraocular muscles can be diagnosed with CT imaging. The CT examination provides information about the disease process and the anatomic location and extent of the disease. This information is essential diagnostic information that will aid in prognosis and patient treatment.

Orthopedics.

A CT examination is very helpful to evaluate joints that are 'tight' and complex and where lesions are primarily bone origin. CT examinations of the elbow and tarsus are particularly rewarding. Congruity of the joints, small fracture fragments and small osteochondrosis lesions can be identified that are often not visible on radiography. Joint osteochondrosis lesions are necessary to provide a prognosis and an effective treatment.

Thorax.

CT is valuable to evaluate and diagnose lesions within the lungs and mediastinum. CT examinations are more sensitive than radiographs for detecting metastatic neoplastic nodules in the lungs. Information on the location of thoracic lesions, the extent of disease and what structures are involved can be evaluated effectively on a CT examination.

Abdomen.

All parenchymal organs in the abdomen can be imaged. The anatomic location and extent of disease are important for treatment of disease within the liver, spleen or other organs. Adrenal tumors or enlargement, kidney masses or pancreatic mases can be identified on CT examinations.

Neoplasia.

The value of CT examinations with neoplastic diseases is to determine the location and extent of disease. This information is important to determine if surgical and or radiation therapy would be possible treatment. Information from the CT examination is used directly in radiation therapy planners. Recheck examinations can also be performed to determine if tumor re-growth or regression is occurring.

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