CT scan horse

What is a CT scan?

A CT scan (computed tomography) works in the same way as a conventional X-ray, using X-rays. The main difference is that a CT scanner does not produce a single image, but multiple images, which are then combined by the computer to form a three-dimensional (3D) image.

Thanks to this 3D representation, a CT scan provides much more and much more accurate information than a conventional X-ray. The shape, size and appearance of internal structures become much clearer. This allows injuries or abnormalities to be detected more quickly and accurately.

A CT scan in animals works in much the same way as in humans. At our faculty, we have a very fast dual-energy 320-slice CT scanner, which is unique in the Benelux.

What is a CT scan used for?

A CT scan in horses is used to examine various parts of the body and a wide range of conditions. Originally, CT was mainly used for bone injuries, but with today's CT scanners, soft tissues can also be clearly visualised. Depending on the location of the body, a CT scan on your horse can be performed with the horse standing or lying down. In addition, a contrast agent (intravenous, intra-arterial, intra-synovial) can also be injected for the evaluation of soft tissues, such as tendon injuries and cartilage injuries, but also to better outline tumours.

A CT scan can be used to examine:

Head (both standing and lying down)
Foot and fetlock (both standing and lying down)
Carpus/tarsus (both standing and lying down)
Knee (lying down)
Neck (lying down)
Elbow, shoulder, back and pelvis (depending on the size of the horse)
Full body (depending on the size of the horse)

A CT scan is also used for pre-surgery planning of, for example, fractures (including 3D printing) and, in addition, CT-guided surgery can be performed (e.g. cysts, fractures, etc.).

CT allows for accurate diagnosis of the following pathologies:

Dental problems
Sinus pathology
Fractures
Bone pathology
Hoof wall pathology such as keratoma or keratoma-like lesion
The activity of tendon injuries using intra-arterial contrast
Cartilage injuries using intra-articular contrast
Communication of cysts with the joint using intra-articular contrast
Pain or reduced mobility in the neck
Neurological problems in the neck such as ataxia (myelogram) and radiculopathy (IV contrast)
…

How does a CT scan work?

When the horse is standing, proper sedation is required, and when the procedure is performed with the horse lying down, general anaesthesia is required. Your animal will be supervised by a specialist anaesthetist at all times, both when standing and under general anaesthesia. This also ensures that the examination does not cause your horse any stress.

With the CT scanner used at the university, the table remains stationary, but the CT scanner moves around the animal to take images. The CT scan itself takes only a few seconds. If necessary, a second scan is performed after administering a contrast agent.

What’s the procedure?

Your vet will send us an email in advance with a detailed medical history and clinical examination, so that we are aware of the problem.

You can bring your horse in either the evening before OR on the morning of the examination.

For a CT scan under general anaesthesia, your horse must remain fasting from the evening before. This means that the animal may not eat after 10 p.m. Your horse may still drink (until the moment you leave for our clinic). We will of course take care of this if your horse is brought in the evening before. For a standing CT scan, your horse does not need to be fasting.

All CT scans are performed by the Large Animal Medical Imaging Team, always under the supervision of one of our three in-house European recognised specialists in medical imaging (Dip. ECVDI): Dr E. Raes, Dr L. Vandekerckhove and Prof. Dr K. Vanderperren.

Once all the images have been taken, your horse will be returned to the recovery box, where it will wake up from general anaesthesia. This is assisted by a rope system or, if necessary, an air cushion (Equilift®).

After the scan, you will be informed about the progress of the examination. Given the large amount of images that need to be analysed, no results will be discussed at this stage. The following day, we will contact your vet and yourself to discuss the results.

You can collect your horse the same evening or the following morning.

You and your vet will receive a detailed report within a week. This allows you to discuss the results with your vet afterwards.

You can view the images via a PACSonWeb link with codes provided.

How do you make an appointment?

Click the button > 'Make an appointment'

For urgent matters, you can reach us at:

• +32 (0) 9 264 76 18 > surgery secretariat, for orthopaedic patients

• +32 (0) 9 264 75 90 > internal medicine secretariat, for neurological patients

Gallery

Slide 4 > CT with intra-arterial contrast provides better visualisation of the soft tissues, which in this case enabled the detection of an injury at the level of the interosseous tendon.