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Abstract Background Bone‐subtraction computed tomography angiography (CTA) (BSCTA) is a new technique designed to overcome the limitation of three‐dimensional CTA, where the vessels surrounded by bone and calcification can be obscured. An optimal contrast CT protocol for intracranial artery visualization with BSCTA has yet to be established in dogs. Objectives The purpose of this study was to determine the optimal contrast protocol of CTA for visualizing intracranial artery using an automatic bone‐subtraction technique in dogs. Methods Brain CTA was performed four times for each of nine healthy beagle dogs to cover all the contrast protocols: two different contrast iodine concentrations (300 and 370 mgI/mL) and two different contrast media injection rates (2 and 4 mL/s). Bone removal post‐processing was performed automatically by subtracting the non‐enhanced CT data from the contrast CT data using a dedicated workstation. The bone‐subtracted intracranial vessels were analysed for quantitative and qualitative evaluation. Results Quantitative evaluation showed significantly higher CT attenuation values for the group with a 370 mgI/mL iodine content at a rate of 4 mL/s than the two groups with a 300 mgI/mL iodine content at the rates of 2 and 4 mL/s (p

Background: Bone subtraction computed tomography angiography (BSCTA) is a useful alternative technique for improving visualization of vessels surrounded by skull bone. However, no studies have compared computed tomography angiography (CTA) and BSCTA for improving the visibility of canine cerebral blood vessels. Objectives: To evaluate the potential benefit of BSCTA for better delineation of brain arteries of the circle of Willis (CoW) in dogs by comparing BSCTA with non-subtraction computed tomography angiography (NSCTA). Methods: Brain CTA was performed for nine healthy beagle dogs using a bolus tracking method with saline flushing. A total dose of600 mgI/kg of contrast agent with an iodine content of370 mgI/mL was injected at a rate of 4 ml/s. Bone removal was achieved automatically by subtracting non-enhanced computed tomography (CT) data from contrast CT data. Five main intracranial arteries of the CoW were analyzed and graded on a scale of five for qualitative evaluation. Results: Scores of basilar artery, middle cerebral artery, and rostral cerebral artery in the BSCTA group were significantly higher than those in the NSCTA group (p = 0.001, p = 0.020, and p < 0.0001, respectively). Scores of rostral cerebellar artery (RcA) and caudal cerebral artery (CCA) did not differ significantly between the two groups. However, scores of RcA and CCA in the BSCTA group were higher than those in the NSCTA group. Conclusions: BSCTA improved visualization of intracranial arteries of the CoW with close contact to bone. Thus, it should be recommended as a routine scan method in dogs suspected of having brain vessel disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 5-year-old castrated male domestic shorthair cat was referred for further investigation of pulmonary nodules incidentally detected on thoracic radiographs. Thoracic radiographs identified ill-defined soft tissue opacity nodules with small faint mineral opacity. Thoracic computed tomography (CT) revealed that bronchial dilation and bronchial wall thickening in bilateral cranial and accessory lung lobes. Round to ellipsoid mineralized concretions were found embedded in the intrabronchial soft tissue attenuation material. Based on radiography, CT, and cytology, the patient was tentatively diagnosed as having broncholithiasis with chronic bronchitis. This report described the CT diagnosis of broncholithiasis, which has been rarely reported in a cat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 10-year-old, spayed female, Doberman Pinscher dog presented with right forelimb lameness. On physical examination, painful reaction and crepitation were present at the right shoulder. Radiographic evaluation of the shoulder revealed nothing remarkable. On the ultrasonography of the right shoulder joint, 2 small echogenic masses accompanied by reverberation artifacts were observed in the right biceps tendon near its origin at the supraglenoid tuberosity. Based on these findings, we suspected biceps calcifying tendinopathy. Clinical signs resolved intermittently after administration of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug. This study described the ultrasonographic findings of calcifying biceps brachii tendinopathy which is an unusual finding in dogs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]