Sternal Abnormalities on Thoracic Radiographs of Dogs and Cats.

Animals (Basel). April 2023;13(7):.

Dirk H N van den Broek¹, Siemone C Vester², Mauricio Tobón Restrepo³, Stefanie Veraa⁴

¹ Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 108, 3584 CM Utrecht, The Netherlands.; ² Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 108, 3584 CM Utrecht, The Netherlands.; ³ Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 108, 3584 CM Utrecht, The Netherlands.; ⁴ Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 108, 3584 CM Utrecht, The Netherlands.

Abstract

Evaluation of the sternum is part of the routine examination of small animal thoracic radiographs. However, descriptions on frequency and type of abnormalities are lacking. This retrospective observational study aimed to describe abnormal radiographic findings of the sternum in a cross-section of client-owned dogs and cats undergoing thoracic radiography between 1 January 2019 and 1 January 2021 for reasons unrelated to diseases of the sternum. The study population consisted of 777 dogs (mean age, 7.3 ± 3.9 years) and 183 cats (mean age, 7.3 ± 5.1 years). Sternal abnormalities were observed in 189/777 (24%) dogs and 53/183 (29%) cats, mostly around the intersternebral cartilages, accounting for 32/80 (40%) dogs and 20/35 (57%) cats. This was followed by an abnormal number of sternal segments (8% dogs, range 3-9 sternebrae; 15% cats, range 7-9 sternebra). Pectus excavatum was observed in 6/777 (0.8%) dogs and 6/183 (3%) cats, and pectus carinatum in 18/777 (2%) dogs and 2/183 (1%) cats. Post-traumatic changes, such as subluxation, were observed in nine dogs (1.1%) and three cats (1.6%). Presumed prostatic carcinoma metastasis and malignant lymphoma were observed in two dogs (0.2%). Incidental radiographic sternal abnormalities are common in cats and dogs but mostly of unknown clinical relevance.

Keywords

companion animals; dislocation; malformation; osteoarthrosis; pectus carinatum; pectus excavatum; vacuum phenomenon;

Article Tools:

Medline

Email to me

Archives Highlights:

Elimination Diet Trials: Steps for Success and Common Mistakes
Increasing the duration of the EDT to 8 weeks increases the sensitivity to more than 90% for the diagnosis of food allergies in dogs and cats. The time to flare upon oral challenge with the offending diet can be 7 to 14 days.

Duration of efficacy and effect of implant location in adult queens treated with a 9.4 mg deslorelin subcutaneous implant.
The average duration of action of the 9.4 mg deslorelin implant was 790 ± 155 days (range 525-1140 days) with no significant difference in duration or efficacy depending on implantation sites. The 9.4 mg deslorelin implant causes pharmacological sterilization for about 2 years in female cats, is fully reversible, and caused no clinically relevant side effects when administered at both interscapular and periumbilical sites.

'Transmission Tracker - Dirofilaria'- a public dashboard to assess in real-time the temperature-bounded transmissibility of canine heartworm across Australia.
'Transmission Tracker - Dirofilaria' processes near real-time temperature records across Australia and allows users to enquire about historical and current weather suitability for canine heartworm transmission at any Australian postcode of their interest. This information allows veterinarians to access when, and for how long, heartworm may be transmitted at a specific location, assess the associated risk of infection, and advise on a patient-dependent dirofilariosis prevention plan for their canine patients and guardians.

Splenic Masses in Dogs: Algorithms for Differentials, Diagnosis, and Definitive Treatment
There is a 63.1% to 70.5% chance a splenic mass is benign if there is no hemoabdomen and a 21.7% to 37.5% chance it is benign if there is hemoabdomen. These numbers replace the two-thirds rule, which said that two-thirds of splenic masses were malignant and two-thirds of malignant masses were HSA, without accounting for hemoabdomen.

How to Address Common Misconceptions About Nutrition
Choosing the optimal food for one’s pet can evoke many emotions. Love, confusion, fear, guilt, and complacency are just some of the feelings evoked by pet food industry marketing. Navigating which concerns are valid or fabricated is challenging.