CT Scanner

Principles

Computer-assisted axial tomography, otherwise known as X-ray scanning or simply scanning, is a medical imaging technique that allows radiographic images to be taken in anatomical sections perpendicular to the axis of the patient's body.

Axial Cuts - Lumbosacral Scanner of a dog - Sagital Reformatting. From the patient's native axial cuts, reconstruction software allows reformatting in all other planes (sagittal, coronal, or oblique). Finally, three-dimensional reconstructions can also be carried out with volume, surface, or endoscopic rendering.

Compared to conventional radiography, the scanner thus allows an overlay of anatomical structures and with a better contrast resolution.

Full body 3D reconstructions with volume rendering

Examination Process

A general anesthetic is necessary for our four-legged patients: it limits the movements during the examination and allows reliable diagnostic images to be obtained: in fact, the slightest movement can compromise the quality and precision of the image. The animal must be left in the morning on an empty stomach and collected in the evening.

When the animal "sleeps", it is placed on the scanner bed in the appropriate position.

The scanner examination is quick and painless, the animal is exposed only to low doses of radiation.

The anaesthesia time is relatively short and the patient is monitored throughout the procedure.

The examination normally takes place in two phases, the first phase of image acquisition without preparation, followed by a second phase after injection of an intravenous iodinated contrast medium. The contrast agent is used to enhance vascular structures and certain tissues (especially tumours). It is the comparison of the two series of images that makes it possible to refine the tomodensitometric diagnosis.

Indications

The scanner gives the possibility to diagnose certain pathologies earlier and more precisely than with other imaging techniques (ultrasound or radiography). Like humans, the scanner allows veterinarians to view and examine parts of the body that are usually difficult to assess with conventional x-ray images.

The areas most commonly explored by CT scans in animals are the skull, spine, thorax, abdomen and certain joints such as the elbow or shoulder.

Nasal Cavities

Jetage and Chronic Rhinitis (runny nose)
Epistaxis (nose bleeds)
Deformities and pains of the muzzle
Recurrent sneezing, reverse sneezing
Suspicion of Aspergillosis, tumour or foreign body in the nasal cavities
Sinusitis
Periodontal diseases, Oro-Nasal fistulas (severe dental infections)

Facial mass

Exophthalmos or asymmetry of the face
Oral pain, difficulty opening or closing the mouth, trismus
Temporal amyotrophy (muscle wasting)
Claude Bernard Horner Syndrome
Retrobulbar pathology
Facial trauma
Assessment of the extension of tumours on the face

Tympanic bubbles

Exploration of middle and internal ear infections
Peripheral vestibular syndrome
Facial paralysis
Exploration of chronic otitis externa
Suspicion of oropharyngeal polyps
Exploration of tumours in the ENT sphere

Encephalon

Exploration of Epileptic Seizures and Convulsive Syndromes
Exploring unexplained sudden behavioural changes
Exploration of alterations in the state of alertness
Exploring Stroke
Head injuries
Exploration of pituitary Cushing's syndromes
Amaurosis (loss of sight)
Suspension of congenital diseases: Hydrocephaly, occipital dysplasia...
Brain tumour suspension

Neckline

Exploration of cervical fistulas and abscesses
Exploration of salivary and thyroid glands
Exploration of the cervical oesophagus
Assessment of the extension of cervicofacial tumours and local-regional lymph nodes

Thorax

Exploration of the thoracic masses
Exploration of pleural effusions
Research of foreign pulmonary bodies (epillets) and exploration of lung abscesses
Exploration of pneumothorax
Pulmonary extension assessment in oncology
Exploration of congenital aortic arch malformations

Abdomen & Pelvis

Exploration of abdominal and pelvic masses
Suspension of abdominal and pelvic foreign bodies
Abdominal extension assessment in cancerology
Exploration of portosystemic shunts by multiphase angioscan
Exploration of abdominal organs: liver, spleen, pancreas, adrenals, kidneys, etc.
Search for retroperitoneal foreign bodies
Investigation of Cushing's syndromes
Exploration of the urinary tree and search for ureteral ectopias

Axial Skeleton

Suspicion of acute or chronic herniated discs
Exploration of cervical vertebral instabilities and Wobbler's syndromes
Traumatic assessment, exploration of vertebral fractures
Suspicion of discospondylites (infection of discs and vertebral bodies)
Exploration of Ponytail Syndrome
Spinal and paraspinal tumour extension assessment

Skeleton Appendicular

Exploration of elbow arthropathies: Dysplasia, Coronoid, Ancona, Osteochondritis, Incongruence
Exploration of arthropathies of the shoulder: Tenosynovitis, Osteochondritis, Instabilities and lesion of the glenoid bead (arthroscanner)
Exploration of the stifle (knee)
Exploration of the carp and the Tarsus
Bone tumour extension assessment
Exploration of complex fractures: joints, acetabulum

- Regardless of the technique, the risk of anaesthesia accident, however low, remains non-zero.
- Given the injection of Iodine a renal check-up may be necessary.
- For older animals, a complete pre-anaesthetic check-up may be essential.
- Exceptionally, a severe allergic reaction may occur with the contrast material.