Objectives

Computed tomography is routinely used in the diagnosis and evaluation of many human diseases. Before any tools can become an effective diagnostic modality, normal species-specific data must be characterized. Having access to clinically relevant C.T. anatomy of the cat is the basis of effective utilization of this modality in veterinary medicine. The purpose of this study is to identify anatomic structures of C.T. images of the abdominal region of the cat for using by veterinary radiologists, clinicians and surgeons.

Materials & Methods

Five mature female cats were used in this study. At first, one of the animals was fixed by routine anatomical method. Following general anesthesia, the other animals were restrained in sternal recumbency and the thoracic region was scanned by high resolution imaging, using a general diagnostic C.T. system, with a slice thickness of 15 mm. Tomograms were made almost perpendicular to the long axis of the abdominal region. Following euthanasia, the cats were frozen with their frames and sectioned with cuts as closely as possible to the C.T. slices. The cuts were studied twice, freshly and after being fixed in formaline. C.T. images were compared with the fixed cat and anatomical slices. Finally relevant structures and landmarks were identified and labeled in C.T. images.

Results and Conclusion

The results of this study can be considered as reference data for diagnosis of abnormal conditions and evaluation of treatment procedures of the abdominal region. For next studies, resolution might be changed for differential diagnosis.