title: Computed tomographic findings in 44 dogs and 10 cats with grass seed foreign bodies.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To supplement recent reports of computed tomographic (CT) findings in dogs and cats with grass seed foreign bodies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective review of cases that had CT scan and subsequent retrieval of a grass seed during the same period of hospitalisation from a site included in the scan.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Records of 44 dogs and 10 cats were reviewed. Most were presented in the months July to December. Median duration of clinical signs was 4 weeks (range 2 days to 2 years). The most frequent clinical signs were soft tissue swelling (30% cases), coughing (28%), sneezing (28%) and discharge (26%). Grass seeds were retrieved from the thorax (35% cases), nasal cavity (31%), ear (7%), other sites in the head and neck (22%), sublumbar muscles (2%) and pelvic limb (2%). The grass seed was visible in CT images in 10 (19%) cases. Secondary lesions were visible in CT images of 52 (96%) cases, including collection of exudate (37%), abscess (24%), enlarged lymph nodes (22%) and pulmonary consolidation (20%). CT images appeared normal in 4% animals.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Grass seeds within the respiratory tract are frequently visible in CT images, but in general CT appears to be more useful for localisation of secondary lesions than as a method of definite diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences and Services, The Royal Veterinary College, University of London, Hawkshead Lane, North Mymms, AL9 7TA, Hertfordshire.
authors.forename: D P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Vansteenkiste
authors.forename: K C L
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Lamb
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002415:Cats; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D006109:Poaceae; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012639:Seeds; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000662:veterinary