Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Comparing whole body CT and traditional imaging in injured dogs
By Sepuya, Rebecca G et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary emergency and critical care (San Antonio, Tex. : 2001)·2022·Department of Emergency and Critical Care, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Comparing diagnostic findings and cost of whole body computed tomography to traditional diagnostic imaging in polytrauma patients.
Plain-English summary
A group of 21 cats and dogs with serious injuries from accidents were evaluated using both traditional imaging methods and a whole-body CT scan (WBCT). The traditional tests missed several injuries, including lung and abdominal issues, while WBCT identified these problems and ruled out others. Although WBCT was more expensive than traditional tests, it provided a more complete picture of the animals' injuries, which could help prevent missed diagnoses. Overall, WBCT may be a better option for pets with severe trauma.
People also search for: dog trauma imaging · cat injury diagnosis · whole body CT scan for pets · cost of pet CT scan · missed injuries in dogs
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To compare the diagnostic utility of traditional diagnostic tests (ie, radiographs and focused assessment using sonography for trauma [FAST] scans) to whole-body computed tomography (WBCT) for characterizing injuries in polytrauma patients. A secondary objective was to compare costs of traditional diagnostic tests to WBCT. DESIGN: Prospective, observational study. SETTING: Private, level 1 veterinary trauma center. ANIMALS: Convenience sample of 21 client-owned cats and dogs presenting with polytrauma. INTERVENTIONS: Abdominal and thoracic FAST were performed by the primary clinician, if indicated. Radiographs were performed on areas concerning for trauma at the primary clinician's discretion. A WBCT was performed on each patient within 24 h of presentation and was blindly interpreted by a board-certified radiologist. Patients were only placed under anesthesia if further procedures were planned. IV contrast administration was employed at the discretion of the primary clinician and radiologist. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Twenty-one patients (14 dogs and 7 cats) were enrolled. Sources of trauma included blunt force (80%), penetrating wounds (10%), and unknown sources (10%). Twelve injuries were missed on traditional diagnostics tests. Injuries missed on traditional diagnostic workup included pneumothorax, pneumomediastinum, pulmonary contusions, pleural effusion, traumatic bulla, peritoneal effusion, and an appendicular skeleton fracture. A distal metacarpal fracture was missed on WBCT. Traditional diagnostic tests misdiagnosed a diaphragmatic hernia and a ruptured urinary bladder, whereas WBCT was able to rule out these injuries. There were no adverse outcomes associated with missed injuries. The median cost of traditional diagnostic tests was significantly less than the cost of WBCT (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Although cost is higher, WBCT is a single test that can provide more comprehensive information and may help decrease the risk of missed injuries compared to traditional diagnostic tests. WBCT may be considered as a first-line diagnostic in severely traumatized patients.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35199929/