Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Chest and belly imaging results in dogs with immune polyarthritis
By Atkinson, L et al.·Published in The Journal of small animal practice·2025·Small Animal Teaching Hospital, United Kingdom·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Thoracic and abdominal diagnostic imaging findings in dogs diagnosed with immune-mediated polyarthritis: 71 cases (2011-2023).
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of dogs diagnosed with immune-mediated polyarthritis (a condition where the immune system attacks the joints) underwent various imaging tests to check for other underlying issues. In this study of 71 dogs, about 25% showed abnormal findings, with lymph node enlargement being the most common issue. Some dogs had serious conditions like cancer or heart infections that could change the treatment plan. The results suggest that imaging tests, especially of the abdomen and heart, are important before starting immunosuppressive therapy, as they can reveal hidden problems that might affect treatment decisions.
People also search for: dog immune-mediated polyarthritis treatment · dog lymph node enlargement · dog heart infection symptoms
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To describe thoracic and abdominal imaging findings in dogs with immune-mediated polyarthritis and to evaluate their impact on the decision to commence immunosuppressive therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective case series describing imaging findings in dogs with immune-mediated polyarthritis across modalities, including thoracic radiographs, abdominal ultrasound, computed tomography, and where available, echocardiography. Additionally, two internal medicine clinicians reviewed the signalment, clinical signs, clinicopathological findings and diagnostic imaging results on two separate occasions, reaching a consensus for each dog on whether immunosuppression would be their treatment of choice or whether their recommendations would be altered by the results of diagnostic imaging. RESULTS: Seventy-one dogs met the inclusion criteria. Abnormal diagnostic imaging findings were identified in 25.4% (18/71) of dogs. Thoracic radiography did not identify significant imaging findings in any of the dogs. Lymphadenomegaly was the most commonly reported finding on computed tomography (32/40) and abdominal ultrasound (13/34). Neoplasia was identified in three dogs (3/71). Four (4/13) dogs had echocardiography findings consistent with endocarditis. Immunosuppression without performing diagnostic imaging would have been considered in 41 of 71 (57.7%) dogs, based on the signalment, presenting signs, results of physical examination and clinicopathological testing. Of these, 10 dogs (24.3%) had diagnostic imaging findings suggestive of an underlying trigger, therefore changing the clinician's decision to proceed with immunosuppression. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Abdominal imaging and echocardiography should be prioritised over thoracic radiography, in dogs with immune-mediated polyarthritis. Signalment, presenting complaint, physical examination findings and clinicopathological results are not reliable predictors of abnormal diagnostic imaging findings in dogs with immune-mediated polyarthritis.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39725570/