title: Comparison of ultrasonography, radiography and a single computed tomography slice for the identification of fluid within the tympanic bulla of rabbit cadavers.
abstract: Evaluation of the tympanic bulla (TB) in cases of otitis media in the rabbit can be a diagnostic challenge, although a feature often associated with the condition is the accumulation of fluid or material within the TB. Randomly selected TB from 40 rabbit cadavers were filled with a water-based, water-soluble jelly lubricant. A dorsoventral radiograph and single computed tomography (CT) slice were taken followed by an ultrasound (US) examination. Image interpretation was performed by blinded operators. The content of each TB was determined (fluid or gas) using each technique and the cadavers were frozen and sectioned for confirmation. CT was the most accurate diagnostic method, but US produced better results than radiography. Given the advantages of US over the other imaging techniques, the results suggest that further work is warranted to determine US applications in the evaluation of the rabbit TB and clinical cases of otitis media in this species.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow, Bearsden Road, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK. Alison.King@glasgow.ac.uk
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: King
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Posthumus
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hammond
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sullivan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002102:Cadaver; D004432:Ear, Middle / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000662:veterinary*; D011817:Rabbits; D011859:Radiography / Q000379:methods* / Q000662:veterinary; D011897:Random Allocation; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods* / Q000662:veterinary; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods* / Q000662:veterinary