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MRI large animals

What is an MRI?

An MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) uses a magnetic field to create images. This magnetic field causes hydrogen nuclei in the body to align in a certain direction. The speed at which these atoms return to their normal positions depends on the type of tissue. This creates a difference in image between different tissues and between healthy and diseased tissues. Many images are created in different directions and sequences, resulting in a three-dimensional image of the body part. The MRI technique is safe for humans and animals and does not use radiation, unlike radiography and CT.

When is an MRI scan useful?

Indications for an MRI scan in horses include imaging soft tissue injuries and bone and cartilage injuries to the limbs. Another indication is a brain disorder (neurological disorder). Unlike a standing MRI scan of the limbs, our lying MRI scan produces no or very minimal motion artefacts.

An MRI scan is used to examine:

• Head and brain
• Foot, fetlock and ball
• The pipe (metatarsus/metacarpus)
• Front knee (carpus) and hock (tarsus)

The following pathologies can be accurately diagnosed using MRI:

• Bone edema
• Injuries to ligaments and tendons
• Abnormalities in the brain
• …

How does an MRI scan work?

Your vet will inform us in advance by email with a detailed medical history and clinical examination.

You bring your horse in either the evening before OR the morning of the day of the examination. Your horse must remain sober from the evening before. This means that the animal may not eat after 10 p.m. Your horse may still drink (until you leave for our clinic). If your horse is brought in the evening before, we will of course take care of this ourselves.

For an MRI examination of the limbs, the horseshoes are removed and radiographs are taken to check for nail residues (metal causes artefacts).

For an MRI examination, the horse is placed under general anaesthesia by a specialist anaesthetist in one of our recovery boxes. For the examination, the animal will lie on the special MRI table and be kept asleep with gas anaesthesia.

Because MRI scans are performed under general anaesthesia, we can guarantee good image quality without motion artefacts. By always striving for the highest possible image quality, we ensure the most accurate diagnosis possible.

All MRI examinations 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.

In the MRI room, the part of the body to be examined is placed in the centre of the magnet and a coil (signal receiver) is placed around it. The radiologist can now produce the desired images in different directions and sequences. For brain MRIs, a contrast agent is always administered intravenously to visualise the blood vessels and any abnormal tissue.

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

The duration of the examination varies from 40 minutes to 1 to 2 hours, depending on the number of regions to be scanned.

After the MRI, you will be informed about the course of the examination. Given the large amount of images that need to be analysed, no results will be discussed at this point. The following day, we will contact your vet and you 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 > 'Schedule 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 1 > MRI tarsus: no motion artefact and 3D sequences - MRI carpus: no movement and perfect imaging of the anatomy of the carpal ligaments

Slide 2 > MRI of limbs