Use of nuclear medicine imaging: Scintigraphy in diagnosis of equine orthopedic disease

Abstract

This study describes techniques, indications and findings of nuclear medicine imaging – scintigraphy of 42 horses with acute and chronic lameness of unknown origin. Most horses showed increased uptake of 99mTc-methylene diphosphonate in the tarsal joint (linked to the osteoarthritis and distal tarsal synovitis), the distal sesamoid bones (linked to the navicular disease), proximal attaches of the musculus interoseus medius on the palmar/plantar region of the metacarpus or metatarsus (linked to the insertations desmopathie) and in the dorsal processes of thoracic vertebrae (linked to the kissing spine syndrome). The interpretation of scintigraphy appeared to be a more reliable and sensitive diagnostic method than radiography in diagnosing these equine orthopedic disease.