Help4vet.com (2025)

20/03/2025

Patient: Dog, female, Boxer, 3 years old

History and Clinical Signs
For the past two weeks, a firm, non-mobile swelling has been observed in the area of the right carpal joint. The dog does not exhibit lameness, and carpal joint mobility remains normal.

A radiographic examination was performed in two orthogonal projections.

Diagnosis
In both lateral and dorsopalmar projections, the carpal bones appear normal in number and shape for the species. The bones forming the joint are in their correct anatomical positions, with no signs of fractures, neoplasia, or inflammatory processes. The joint spaces are of normal width, and the articular surfaces are smooth and free of degenerative changes.

An enthesophyte is present on the lateral margin of the distal metaphysis of the right radius, at the attachment site of the abductor pollicis longus tendon.

The sesamoid bones are intact, without signs of fragmentation. The metacarpophalangeal and interphalangeal joints appear normal, with no evidence of degenerative or inflammatory changes. The metacarpal and phalangeal bones show no signs of fractures, inflammation, or neoplastic processes. The surrounding soft tissues are unremarkable.

The radiographic findings indicate tenosynovitis of the abductor pollicis longus tendon. Appropriate treatment is recommended.

Commentary
Abductor pollicis longus tenosynovitis is a condition of unclear etiology. It is believed that chronic overuse of the tendon leads to persistent inflammation of the tendon sheath, resulting in thickening and partial ossification over time.

This condition is most commonly observed in large-breed dogs over two years of age. A characteristic feature is the presence of a firm, rounded swelling on the medial aspect of the distal radius.

Radiographic findings typically reveal focal bone formation on the medial and dorsal aspect of the distal radius.

Treatment depends on the severity of clinical signs, particularly lameness. In cases of significant bony proliferation, surgical intervention may be necessary.

www.help4vet.com

11/09/2024

🧠 Medical Case: Maine C**n, Male, 8 years old 🧠

🐾 History and Clinical Symptoms:
This 8-year-old male Maine C**n was referred for a CT scan of the head from another clinic. For the past six months, he has exhibited neurological issues such as ataxia, balance problems, limb correction issues, and tilting of the head to one side. The cat also shows signs of pain when the right ear is examined, despite no visible disease in the external ear canals. Additionally, the cat drools, lifts his upper lip on the right side, and shakes his head. Urinary bladder atony and difficulty in defecating were also observed. No improvement was seen after ear treatment and dental cleaning.

🩺 CT Scan Findings:
A CT scan of the head was performed after the administration of a contrast agent. The scan was evaluated from the incisor teeth to the occipital bone. The skull bones and the skull vault were normally shaped with no signs of fractures, lesions, or tumors. The nasal cavities showed no fluid presence and were symmetrical with well-defined nasal conchae. The nasal septum was intact, dividing the nasal cavity into two symmetrical parts. The posterior nares were normally aerated, and the nasal part of the pharynx appeared normal. The eyeballs and retrobulbar spaces showed no abnormalities. The frontal sinuses were well-formed and normally aerated. The tympanic bullae were both normally aerated with no signs of lysis. The ear canals were of normal caliber. Within the brain, a large, irregular mass measuring 2.8 cm x 1.7 cm x 2.9 cm was observed on the right side, located in the parietal and temporal lobes, positioned extracerebrally. The mass was well-demarcated, homogenous, and showed strong, uniform contrast enhancement throughout its surface. The mass exerted a significant mass effect on the brain structures, causing compression of the lateral ventricle and shifting the lateral ventricle and the longitudinal fissure of the brain to the left.

🔍 Diagnosis:
A proliferative mass in the brain. Differential diagnosis should consider various tumor types, including glioma and meningioma. Further diagnostic tests are needed for definitive tumor typing.

📚 Comment:
Brain tumors are not uncommon in cats, but due to limited access to diagnostic methods such as MRI or CT scans, they are rarely detected. Both primary and metastatic brain tumors can be found in the brain. The most common primary brain tumor in cats is meningioma, which originates from the epithelial cells covering the meninges. Meningiomas in cats can also develop inside the brain ventricles. These tumors are usually benign, with malignant changes being rare. Neurological symptoms originating from the central nervous system may indicate the presence of a brain tumor. MRI is the preferred method for detecting such changes, but CT scans, especially with intravenous contrast, can also be helpful. Different types of brain tumors have distinct imaging appearances, which can assist in making a preliminary diagnosis. However, definitive tumor typing is only possible through histopathological examination.

www.help4vet.com

04/09/2024

🐾 **Medical Case: Labrador Retriever, 7 years old** 🐾

We present the case of a 7-year-old male Labrador Retriever who exhibits mild forelimb lameness during walks. The dog is being treated with pain medication but remains active despite the pain. During the physical examination, the right elbow joint was found to be swollen and noticeably painful.

Due to the clinical symptoms, X-rays of the elbow joints were performed. In the lateral resting and lateral flexed projections, the lines of the lateral and medial epicondyles of both humeri are irregular and covered with osteophytes. The joint spaces of both elbow joints are widened, with mild incongruence, especially in the right joint. The joint surfaces are irregular and show degenerative changes. The anconeal processes are fused and covered with osteophytes, and the medial coronoid processes have blurred outlines. Sclerosis of the subchondral bone of the trochlear notch of both ulnas is visible. Osteophytes are present around the epicondyles of the humeri and the heads of the radii. In the sagittal projection, the joint spaces of both elbow joints are not widened, but the joint surfaces are irregular and degeneratively altered. The medial coronoid processes show signs of fragmentation. There are no signs of osteochondritis dissecans. Osteophytes are visible on the edges of the epicondyles of both humeri. The visible skeleton of the forelimbs shows no signs of fractures, inflammatory processes, or neoplastic changes. The surrounding soft tissues remain unchanged.

Based on the submitted radiographs, radiological features indicating bilateral elbow dysplasia with signs of advanced degenerative joint disease were noted.

📚 **Comment:** 📚
Elbow dysplasia includes four main pathological conditions affecting the elbow joint: ununited anconeal process (UAP), fragmentation of the medial coronoid process (FCP), osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) of the medial humeral condyle, and incongruence (INC) of the joint surfaces. To diagnose dysplasia, at least one of these changes must be present. The causes of dysplasia can be both genetic and environmental. Large, fast-growing dog breeds are predisposed to dysplasia. The consequence of dysplastic changes is elbow joint osteoarthritis (arthrosis), which progresses rapidly. Computed tomography is the gold standard in diagnosing elbow dysplasia, but X-rays are often performed due to the easy accessibility of equipment and lower cost. To diagnose elbow dysplasia based on X-rays, radiographs must be taken in at least three projections. The radiographs taken of this patient revealed advanced degenerative and dysplastic changes, such as incongruence of the joint surfaces and fragmentation of the medial coronoid processes.

www.help4vet.com

28/08/2024

🐾 **Medical Case: Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, 3 years old** 🐾

We present the case of a 3-year-old female Cavalier King Charles Spaniel who was referred from another clinic for a chest and trachea X-ray. The patient exhibits symptoms of reverse sneezing and occasional apneas.

X-rays of the chest were taken in right lateral, left lateral, and dorsoventral projections. In the lateral projections, the heart silhouette dimensions are within the normal range (VHS 11; breed norm 10.1-11.1). The aorta and caudal vena cava have similar widths and typical positioning, and the pulmonary vessels are of typical width and position. The trachea shows signs of a grade II/III collapse before the thoracic inlet but is physiologically positioned. The larynx does not show any radiologically detectable changes, and the bronchial pattern is accentuated. The lung fields are hypoinflated. In the sagittal projection, the heart silhouette is enlarged and irregularly shaped but physiologically positioned. The mediastinum is widened, and the lung fields are aerated. The pulmonary vessel pattern is typical for the species. The diaphragm pillars have a typical shape and position with intact continuity. The sternum, ribs, and thoracic spine show no radiologically detectable changes. The surrounding soft tissues remain unchanged.

Based on the submitted radiographs, radiological features indicating tracheal collapse and chronic bronchitis were noted. Appropriate treatment should be initiated. Due to the visible heart enlargement and mediastinal widening in the sagittal projection, a cardiology consultation is recommended. The decreased aeration of the lung fields is due to the respiratory phase during which the radiograph was taken.

📚 **Comment:** 📚
Tracheal collapse syndrome (TCS) involves the narrowing of the tracheal lumen, leading to restricted airflow to the lungs. TCS is most commonly seen in small and toy breeds. The causes of TCS may include congenital tracheal abnormalities, such as cartilage formation disorders, tracheal degeneration, as well as injuries related to improper intubation or chronic respiratory diseases. Symptoms of TCS include varying degrees of dyspnea, snoring, wheezing, cough associated with excitement or intense physical activity, recurrent respiratory infections, and exercise intolerance. The degree of tracheal collapse (I-IV) on X-rays is assessed by comparing the tracheal lumen's dimensions at the site of collapse to the lumen at a non-collapsed site and to the width of the thoracic inlet. However, it is important to note that due to the different respiratory phases during X-ray examination, tracheal collapse is visible in only 60% of cases, making endoscopy the key diagnostic tool.

www.help4vet.com

21/08/2024

🐾 **Medical Case: Tosia - Golden Retriever, 1 year old** 🐾

Meet Tosia, a 1-year-old Golden Retriever, who was diagnosed with left hip dysplasia a year ago after a screening test.

🌟 **Current Status:** 🌟
Tosia can move around but shows signs of pain in her left hip joint.

🩺 **X-ray Description:** 🩺
The ventrodorsal projection revealed that the left femoral head has an irregular surface with visible osteophytes on the caudal edge, while the right femoral head shows no radiological changes. The left femoral head is well seated in the acetabulum, whereas the right femoral head is loosely positioned. The joint surfaces of the femoral heads align with the acetabular surfaces. The left acetabulum is shallow with an irregular edge and visible osteophytes on the cranial edge, while the right acetabulum is spherical and shows no degenerative changes. The right joint space is slightly widened. The left femoral neck is thickened and covered with a collar of osteophytes, while the right femoral neck remains unthickened. Morgan’s line is marked on the left side. The sacroiliac joints and the visible section of the spine show no radiological abnormalities. The visible bones of the pelvic limbs and pelvis show no signs of fractures, inflammatory processes, or neoplastic changes. Muscle atrophy in the left hind limb is also observed.

🔬 **Diagnosis:** 🔬
Based on the submitted radiographs, advanced degenerative disease of the left hip joint, secondary to the dysplasia diagnosed in 2023, is confirmed.

📚 **Comment:** 📚
Hip dysplasia is a multifactorial condition, primarily characterized by looseness of the hip joint in young dogs, and sometimes in cats. Dysplasia often leads to secondary degenerative changes in the joints (coxarthrosis). The exact cause of dysplasia is not yet fully understood, with both genetic and environmental factors considered. The radiographic appearance of hip dysplasia varies depending on the severity of the disease but is mainly characterized by a shallow acetabulum, a mismatch between the femoral head and the acetabulum, often with signs of subluxation in the joint, and secondary degenerative changes of varying severity. X-rays to determine dysplasia should always be performed under sedation. The primary radiograph taken is a ventrodorsal projection according to OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals) standards – the pelvis must be symmetrically positioned so that the obturator foramina are equal, and the limbs must be extended, positioned parallel to each other, and internally rotated so that the patella is centered over the trochlear groove of the femur. The radiograph should include the pelvis and hip joints, sacroiliac joints, and knee joints. Based on this radiograph, the severity of dysplasia and degenerative changes can be assessed.

www.help4vet.com

21/02/2024

🌟 | Guidelines for Body Side Marking and Marker Placement 🌟

📸 Veterinary Radiology Practice 🐾

In veterinary radiology, diagnostic accuracy begins with the details! Proper marking of body sides and placement of radiological markers are key to conducting precise and effective examinations. Here’s how to do it right:

✅ Importance of Markings and Markers:

Marking the body side and using radiological markers are essential for unequivocally identifying which side of the animal's body is being examined. This is the foundation of diagnostic precision, especially in the case of asymmetrical pathological changes.
✅ How to Use Markers?

Marker Application: Always place an "L" or "R" marker on the radiographic image to indicate whether the left or right side of the body is being examined.
Proper Marker Placement: The marker should be visible but must not cover any crucial diagnostic areas.
Documentation: Always note in the medical documentation which side of the body was examined and what markers were used.
🔍 Practical Tips:

Limbs: Place the marker near the examined limb to facilitate side identification without affecting the interpretation of key anatomical areas.
Lateral Projections: In lateral chest radiography, place the "L" or "R" marker at the top of the image, outside the heart and lung area. For lateral projections, always mark the side that is closer to the detector, indicating the side on which the animal is lying.
V/D and D/V Projections: In ventrodorsal (V/D) and dorsoventral (D/V) projections, place the "L" and "R" markers on the sides of the animal to clearly determine left-right orientation.
👩‍⚕️👨‍⚕️ Proper body side marking and marker placement not only meet technical requirements but most importantly enhance diagnostic accuracy and therapeutic efficiency. By sharing this knowledge, we help ensure that every radiographic image provides the maximum amount of diagnostic information, contributing to the quality of care for our four-legged patients. 🐶🐱

Let's not forget: in lateral projections, it's crucial to mark the side that is closer to the detector, highlighting the side on which the animal is lying. This additional step ensures that images are interpreted correctly, enhancing our diagnostic capabilities.

www.help4vet.com

24/01/2024

🔍 Clinical History and Symptoms:
Our patient, a 10-year-old mixed breed dog weighing about 25 kg, exhibited unusual behaviors such as anxiety and jumping on furniture. The history revealed that the dog suddenly stopped bearing weight on its right hind limb, with swelling observed around the ankle joint, likely after jumping off a table.

🩺 Radiographic Examination of Both Ankle Joints was Conducted.

🔬 Examination Description:
In the lateral and anteroposterior projections, the ankle joints showed a typical number and shape of bones for the species. The bones forming the joints were not displaced, with smooth joint surfaces showing no signs of degenerative or inflammatory changes. In the distal epiphysis of the right tibia, a lytic lesion with an incomplete fracture was noted, without periosteal reaction.

🚩 Diagnosis:
Based on the radiographs, a pathological fracture of the right tibia was diagnosed, likely due to a neoplastic process.

🩸 The owners opted for amputation of the right limb and histopathological examination of the altered tibia, which confirmed the presence of osteosarcoma. Unfortunately, euthanasia was necessary two months after the amputation.

🔎 Commentary:
Osteosarcoma is a malignant bone tumor often affecting the long bones. Typically seen in large dog breeds, it manifests as pain, lameness, and swelling. Radiography is a key diagnostic tool, and treatment usually involves limb amputation and pain management, with chemotherapy as an option.

💡 Remember, early diagnosis and intervention are crucial in combating cancer in our four-legged friends. 🐾

Help4vet.com

24/12/2023

Dear Sir or Madam,

As Christmas and the New Year approach, we would like to extend our warmest wishes to you. May this special time bring you peace, joy, and relaxation with your loved ones. We hope that the coming year will be filled with professional success, inspiring challenges, and satisfying achievements in the field of diagnostic imaging.

We are grateful for your cooperation and trust in our work related to the interpretation of X-ray, CT, and MRI images. We hope that our support contributes to improving the health and well-being of your patients.

With respect,
The entire Help4vet.com team

Monday	08:00 - 18:00
Tuesday	09:00 - 19:00
Wednesday	08:00 - 19:00
Thursday	08:00 - 19:30
Friday	08:00 - 17:00

Help4vet.com

20/03/2025

11/09/2024

04/09/2024

28/08/2024

21/08/2024

21/02/2024

24/01/2024

24/12/2023

Address

Opening Hours

Website

Alerts

Contact The Business

Shortcuts

Share