title: Modern CT applications in veterinary medicine.
abstract: Although computed tomography (CT) is used primarily for diagnosis in humans, it can also be used to diagnose disease in veterinary patients. CT and associated three-dimensional reconstruction have a role in diagnosis of a range of illnesses in a variety of animals. In a sea turtle with failure to thrive, CT showed a nodal mass in the chest, granulomas in the lungs, and a ball in the stomach. CT of a sea dragon with balance and movement problems showed absence of the swim bladder. In a sloth with failure to thrive, CT allowed diagnosis of a coin in the intestine. CT of a puffin with failure to thrive showed a mass in the chest, which was found to be a hematoma. In a smooth-sided toad whose head was tilted to one side and who was circling in that direction, CT showed partial destruction of the temporal bone. CT of a domestic cat with listlessness showed a mass with focal calcification, which proved to be a leiomyosarcoma. CT of a sea otter showed pectus excavatum, which is caused by the animal smashing oysters against its chest. In a Japanese koi with abdominal swelling, CT allowed diagnosis of a hepatoma.
authors.affiliation: Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University, 601 N Caroline St, Rm 3254, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA.
authors.forename: Melissa R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Garland
authors.forename: Leo P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Lawler
authors.forename: Brent R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Whitaker
authors.forename: Ian D F
authors.initials: ID
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.forename: Frank M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Corl
authors.forename: Elliot K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Fishman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001001:Anura; D002347:Carps; D002415:Cats; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D010041:Otters; D012896:Sloths; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D014426:Turtles