Cathy Beck

Nasal vascular hamartoma in a Domestic Shorthair cat.

A nasal mass in a Domestic Shorthair cat was causing facial deformity, sneezing and intermittent epistaxis. Biopsy samples obtained previously had been non-diagnostic. Computed tomography images revealed an irregular, contrast-enhancing mass occupying a large portion of the righthand side of the nasal cavity. Previously described criteria for malignancy were not present. A ventral surgical approach combined with temporary, ipsilateral, common carotid arterial occlusion provided excellent access for debulking the lesion and collecting samples for histopathology. A nasal vascular hamartoma was diagnosed and clinical signs resolved postoperatively. This is the first documentation of this abnormality in the cat. Hamartomatous abnormalities should be included on the list of differential diagnoses for feline nasal mass lesions. The prognosis for hamartomatous lesions postoperatively is good, in keeping with their limited propensity for growth after maturity.

Pneumatosis coli in a dog.

A 17-year-old, castrated male Maltese was presented with chronic polyphagia and a 2-week history of tenesmus, diarrhea, hematochezia, weight loss, and ribbon-like feces. Pneumatosis coli was diagnosed by abdominal radiography. Concurrent hyperadrenocorticism was suspected. The clinical signs of colorectal disease resolved within 2 days of initiating a lowresidue diet and oral metronidazole. Pneumatosis coli should be considered as a differential diagnosis for colorectal disease in dogs.

Medical management of esophageal perforation secondary to esophageal foreign bodies in 5 dogs: Medical management of esophageal perforation

OBJECTIVE To describe 5 cases of conservative management of substantial esophageal perforation in dogs. SERIES SUMMARY Five dogs presented with an esophageal foreign body (EFB) and resultant esophageal perforation. Clinical signs at presentation included tachycardia, tachypnea, and increased respiratory effort. Thoracic radiography was performed in all cases, and in each case, pleural and mediastinal effusion was present, suggesting esophageal perforation prior to endoscope-guided removal. A full thickness esophageal defect was visualized after foreign body removal in 4/5 cases. Treatment included IV crystalloid fluid therapy, IV antimicrobials, analgesia, and proton pump inhibitors in all cases. Two dogs had a percutaneous endoscopically placed gastrostomy feeding tube placed and 1 dog received prednisolone sodium succinate IV because of marked pharyngeal inflammation. Complications after EFB removal included pneumothorax (n = 2) and pneumomediastinum (n = 4). Four of the 5 dogs survived to discharge and did not have complications 2-4 weeks following discharge. One dog was euthanized as result of aspiration pneumonia following EFB removal. NEW OR UNIQUE INFORMATION PROVIDED Traditionally, surgical management of esophageal perforations has been recommended. This can be a costly and invasive procedure and requires a high degree of surgical skill. In this report, conservative management of substantial esophageal perforation in 5 dogs is described; medical management may be a viable treatment option in dogs with perforation of the esophagus due to EFB.

Improving visual observation skills through the arts to aid radiographic interpretation in veterinary practice: A pilot study

Radiographic interpretation is a perceptual and cognitive skill. Recently core veterinary radiology textbooks have focused on the cognitive (i.e., the clinical aspects of radiographic interpretation) rather than the features of visual observation that improve identification of abnormalities. As a result, the skill of visual observation is underemphasized and thus often underdeveloped by trainees. The study of the arts in medical education has been used to train and improve visual observation and empathy. The use of the arts to improve visual observation skills in Veterinary Science has not been previously described. Objectives of this pilot study were to adapt the existing Visual Arts in Health Education Program for medical and dental students at the University of Melbourne, Australia to third year Doctor of Veterinary Medicine students and evaluate their perceptions regarding the programs effects on visual observation skills and confidence with respect to radiographic interpretation. This adaptation took the form of a single seminar given to third year Doctor of Veterinary Medicine students. Following the seminar, students reported an improved approach to radiographic interpretation and felt they had gained skills which would assist them throughout their career. In the year following the seminar, written reports of the students who attended the seminar were compared with reports from a matched cohort of students who did not attend the seminar. This demonstrated increased identification of abnormalities and greater description of the abnormalities identified. Findings indicated that explicit training in visual observation may be a valuable adjunct to the radiology training of Doctor of Veterinary Medicine students.

IMAGING DIAGNOSIS: THE COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY FEATURES OF A PLEUROPERITONEAL HERNIA IN A CAT

An 8-year-old female neutered domestic short hair cat presented for investigation of poorly controlled diabetes mellitus. Thoracic radiographs identified a soft tissue opacity in the caudoventral thorax adjacent to the diaphragm. Computed tomography (CT) then characterized a pleuroperitoneal hernia with cranial displacement of a portion of the liver within the hernia. A pleuroperitoneal hernia was confirmed and repaired via exploratory laparotomy. This is the first description of the CT features of a pleuroperitoneal hernia in a cat.

The effect of recumbency position on the ultrasound measurement of the canine adrenal gland in non-adrenal gland illness

Abdominal ultrasound is frequently used to assess the canine adrenal gland (AG) and subjective and objective features of normal AGs have been described. The effect of the dogs’ recumbency position on the accuracy of AG measurement acquisition is not known. This prospective study, performed in dogs with non-adrenal illness, compared ultrasonographic AG measurements made in dogs placed in dorsal recumbency with those made in left or right lateral recumbency. AG length, height and width measurements made in the longitudinal image plane, and height and width measurements from the transverse image plane were assessed. The level and limits of agreement between the dorsal and lateral recumbency for each of the measurements were determined using the Bland–Altman analysis. The measurement with the best agreement between the dorsal and lateral recumbency was the caudal pole thickness (CPT) from the longitudinal image plane. Agreement between lateral and dorsal recumbency was poorer for the measurements derived from the transverse image plane and poorest for measurements of AG length in the longitudinal plane. This study demonstrates that there is some difference in the measurements acquired in dorsal compared with lateral recumbency; however, the difference is small for the CPT from the longitudinal plane. This finding suggests that the CPT from the longitudinal image plane is the most reliable measurement in terms of agreement between dorsal and lateral recumbency in dogs with non-AG illness.