Veterinary radiology & ultrasound : the official journal of the American College of Veterinary Radiology and the International Veterinary Radiology Association
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Vet Radiol Ultrasound · Mar 2017
RESULTS OF COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY IN DOGS WITH SUSPECTED WOODEN FOREIGN BODIES.
Detection of wooden foreign bodies in dogs can be challenging. A retrospective, cross-sectional study was done to describe computed tomographic (CT) signs associated with wooden foreign bodies, and to estimate the accuracy of CT for detection of wooden foreign bodies. Patient records and CT images were reviewed for 72 dogs that had a history of suspected stick injury and CT of the affected body part, or possible wooden foreign object reported on CT, and had surgical exploration during the same period of hospitalization. ⋯ Based on review of CT images with knowledge of the surgical findings, sensitivity of CT for wooden foreign bodies was 79% (95% CI 65%-89%), specificity 93% (78%-98%), positive likelihood ratio 11.5 (2.9-44.1), and negative likelihood ratio 0.23 (0.13-0.41). Wooden foreign bodies were predominantly rectangular or linear, with median length 48 mm (range 2-270 mm), median thickness 3 mm (range 1-22 mm), and median attenuation 111 HU (range -344 to +640 HU). A CT finding of gas in soft tissues was significantly associated with acute cases, whereas suspected foreign material, cavitary lesions, fat stranding, and periosteal reaction on adjacent bones were associated with chronic cases.