title: The axolotl as an animal model for the comparison of 3-D ultrasound with plain film radiography.
abstract: We assessed the usefulness of an animal model, the axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum), in comparing 3-D ultrasound (3-D US) and plain film radiographs. Hindlimbs were amputated from 5 animals, at either the zeugopodial or stylopodial level, and each regenerating limb was imaged 16 times with 3-D US and 14 times with plain film X ray over 315 days. US images were acquired with a Siemens Sonoline Versa Pro and a 10-MHz linear array transducer. For 3-D US images, the probe was translated in a motor-driven linear stage while images were digitized. The regenerating tibia and fibula bones were detected on 3-D US an average of 37 days earlier than on plain film radiography, and regenerating phalangeal bones were detected on 3-D US an average of 18 days earlier. After 120 days, both imaging modalities consistently showed the bones. The average bone growth rates for the tibia and fibula were 0.019 +/- 0.001 mm/day and 0.019 +/- 0.001 mm/day, respectively.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada.
authors.forename: G P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Kulbisky
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Rickey
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Reed
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Björklund
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gordon
mesh_terms: D000557:Ambystoma; D000818:Animals; D006614:Hindlimb / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000502:physiology; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D011859:Radiography; D012038:Regeneration; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods