title: Navigational ultrasound imaging: A novel imaging tool for aiding interventional therapies of equine musculoskeletal injuries.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Navigational ultrasound imaging, also known as fusion imaging, is a novel technology that allows real-time ultrasound imaging to be correlated with a previously acquired computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study. It has been used in man to aid interventional therapies and has been shown to be valuable for sampling and assessing lesions diagnosed with MRI or CT that are equivocal on ultrasonography. To date, there are no reports of the use of this modality in veterinary medicine.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess whether navigational ultrasound imaging can be used to assist commonly performed interventional therapies for the treatment of equine musculoskeletal injuries diagnosed with MRI and determine the appropriateness of regional anatomical landmarks as registration sites.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective, descriptive clinical study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Horses with musculoskeletal injuries of the distal limb diagnosed with MRI scheduled for ultrasound-guided interventional therapies were evaluated (n = 17 horses with a total of 29 lesions). Anatomical landmarks used for image registration for the navigational procedure were documented. Accuracy of lesion location and success of the procedure were assessed subjectively and described using a grading scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All procedures were accurately registered using regional anatomical landmarks and considered successful based on our criteria. Anatomical landmarks were described for each lesion type. The addition of navigational imaging was considered to greatly aid the procedures in 59% of cases and added information to the remainder of the procedures. The technique was considered to improve the precision of these interventional procedures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Navigational ultrasound imaging is a complementary imaging modality that can be used for the treatment of equine soft tissue musculoskeletal injuries diagnosed with MRI.
authors: Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, USA.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Lustgarten
authors: Department of Clinical Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, USA.
authors: W R
authors: WR
authors: Redding
authors: Department of Clinical Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, USA.
authors: L V
authors: LV
authors: Schnabel
authors: Department of Clinical Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, USA.
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Prange
authors: Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, USA.
authors: G S
authors: GS
authors: Seiler
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005552:Forelimb; D006614:Hindlimb; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D006736:Horses; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000662:veterinary*; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000662:veterinary*; D014463:Ultrasonography
keywords: MRI; fusion imaging; horse; musculoskeletal; navigational ultrasound imaging