O. Travetti

Feline injection-site sarcoma: recurrence, tumour grading and surgical margin status evaluated using the three-dimensional histological technique.

The three-dimensional histology technique is used in human medicine for the evaluation of complete lateral and deep surgical margins. In this study, the technique was applied to 48 excised feline injection-site sarcoma specimens. The predictive value of the histological margin status and tumour grading on local recurrence was investigated. In 32/48 cases, the margins were non-infiltrated, whilst in the remaining 16 cases, they were infiltrated. Overall, 6/32 (19%) tumours with non-infiltrated margins and 11/16 (69%) with infiltrated margins recurred. Tumours with infiltrated margins recurred about 10 times more frequently compared to tumours with non-infiltrated margins (P=0.0011). No statistically significant correlation was observed between grading and recurrence. The assessment of margin status using the 3D histology technique showed a good predictivity for post-surgical tumour recurrence. Extensive application of the 3D histology technique is recommended to standardise the evaluation of histological margins and to allow comparison between results from different laboratories.

Bilateral orbital and nasal aspergillosis in a cat.

Abstract A 12‐year‐old, 4 kg, castrated male Persian cat was referred with a 2‐month history of sneezing and bilateral mucopurulent nasal discharge. Rhinoscopically acquired nasal biopsies at this time revealed bilateral lymphoplasmacytic rhinitis. A tapering dose of oral prednisone caused the complete remission of the clinical signs, but 2 months after discontinuation of the therapy, the rhinitis recurred and the OD became exophthalmic. Computed tomography showed a soft tissue mass in both sides of the nasal cavity, both frontal sinuses, the right orbit, and to a lesser extent the left orbit. A fine needle aspirate of the right orbit revealed pyogranulomatous inflammation and Aspergillus spp. hyphae. Repeat nasal biopsy demonstrated multi‐focal necrosis and a mixed inflammatory cell process which now included macrophages and scattered septate fungal hyphae. A few days later the cat became bilaterally blind and a contrast enhancing lesion involving the optic chiasm was found on magnetic resonance imaging. Despite a poor prognosis, therapy consisted of exenteration of the right orbit and trephination of both frontal sinuses before the planned initiation of medical antifungal therapy. Unfortunately, the cat died of cardiac arrest intraoperatively. Aspergillus fumigatus was cultured from both orbits at necropsy. Orbital aspergillosis has been rarely reported in cats and its relationship with lymphoplasmacytic rhinitis is unclear. In this patient lymphoplasmacytic rhinitis or previous antibiotic/corticosteroid therapy may have allowed secondary fungal invasion of the nasal mucosa and subsequently both orbits and the brain. Alternatively, Aspergillus infection may have preceded the lymphoplasmacytic rhinitis.

Use of magnetic resonance imaging in the diagnosis of bone marrow edema in the equine distal limb: six cases.

Use of magnetic resonance imaging in the diagnosis of bone marrow edema in the equine distal limb: six cases D. D. Zani & D. De Zani & M. Biggi & M. Scandella & O. Travetti & M. Di Giancamillo Published online: 4 July 2009 # Springer Science + Business Media B.V. 2009

Factors Influencing Wound Healing Complications After Wide Excision of Injection Site Sarcomas of the Trunk of Cats

OBJECTIVE Wide surgery is the mainstay of the multimodal treatment of injection site sarcomas (ISS) in cats. The aim of the study was to analyze potential factors influencing the development of wound healing complications (WHC) in cats undergoing wide excision of ISS. STUDY DESIGN Retrospective case series. ANIMALS Forty-nine cats with ISS located on the trunk underwent wide excision after contrast-enhanced computed tomography planning. METHODS The prognostic effect of covariates (sex, age, weight, body condition score (BCS), site, clinical dimension (CD), computed tomographic dimension (CTD), histotype, duration of surgery, surgical margin status, local anesthesia) on total, major and minor WHC was evaluated by univariate and bivariate analysis. Cox model was used for total WHC and Fine and Gray model was used for major and minor WHC. The relationship between duration of surgery and clinical and imaging variables was evaluated. RESULTS The main factor associated to the risk of total and major WHC was surgical time. Based on univariate analysis, pattern of reconstruction, CDT, CD, weight, and BCS were significant prognostic factors for major WHC, but this was not confirmed when adjusted for other clinical variables in bivariate analysis. The duration of surgery was influenced by excision pattern and tumor CTD width. CONCLUSIONS An increased duration of surgery as the consequence of complex surgical procedures represented the best predictor for the development of WHC.

Elbow dysplasia and lesions of the medial coronoid process: correlation between tomographic and arthroscopic findings in thirty cases

ABSTRACT Elbow dysplasia and lesions of the medial coronoidprocess: correlation between tomographicand arthroscopic findings in thirty cases A. F. Botazzoli & F. Ferraresi & O. Travetti & F. M. Martini & C. M. Mortellaro & M. Di Giancamillo Published online: 21 August 2008 # Springer Science + Business Media B.V. 2008 Keywords Arthroscopy.Dog.Elbowdysplasia.X-raycomputerizedtomography(CT)IntroductionElbow dysplasia is an invalidating pathology with a not yet entirely clarified etiology, thatimplies a congenital and/or herditary-familiar nature, showing a particularly elevatedincidence in some canine breeds (Retrievers, Rottweiler, Newfoundland, Bernese mountaindog etc.) (Olsson 1975; Guthrie and Pidduck 1990). It can be revealed in various forms,(FCP,UAP,OCD,INC) and if it is not precociously diagnosed it also leads, sometimesinevitably, to forms of severe arthrosis (Olsson 1975; Hornof et al. 2000; Kunzel et al.2004; Blond et al. 2005). The diagnostic procedure consists, besides the clinicalexamination, of a standardized radiographic examination according to the indicationsfurnished by the International Elbow Working Group (IEWG), that however gives onlyinformation on the presence or lack of secondary osteoarthrosic damage (Van Bree and VanRyssen 1995; Hornof et al. 2000; Blond et al. 2005). For this reason, in the last decade theuse of second level imaging techniques as CT and arthroscopy, which has the undeniableadvantage to offer both diagnostic and therapeutic options, has increased (Van Bree andVan Ryssen 1995; Bardet 1997; Van Ryssen and Van Bree 1997; Hornof et al. 2000;Reichele et al. 2000; De Rycke et al. 2002; Rovesti 2002; Schultz et al. 2004; Blond et al.2005; Martini 2006). The present works is to be considered as a retrospective investigationperformed on 30 articulations affected by elbow dysplasia to find a possible correlationbetween CT and arthroscopic findings of different nature and degree, contextuallyanalyzing the possibilities and limits of each technique.