The new CT enables the scanning of regions of the body that were previously not possible and will therefore enhance the visualisation of disease processes, aiding earlier diagnosis and treatment to improve prognosis.
Qalibra Exceed is an advanced scanner which uses a fan beam CT (Canon Aquilion Large Bore Exceed) mounted on a custom platform. It will allow the RVC team to examine the head and upper part of the neck in a standing sedated horse. This will help diagnose teeth and sinus problems as well as support the further evaluation of horses who sustain trauma to their head or show signs of headshaking. Additionally, the team can image the limbs of the horse up to and including the carpus (knee) and tarsus (hock). This can be beneficial when diagnosing causes of lameness, due to issues with both the bone and soft tissues.
Due to the large 90cm bore of the scanner, under general anaesthesia, there are further regions that can now also be imaged. This includes the entire neck and the segment connecting the neck with the upper back (cervicothoracic junction). This is especially helpful in horses showing neck pain, unexplained forelimb lameness and/or ataxia (neurological problems) and in which conventional x-rays and ultrasounds were previously inconclusive or normal. Additionally, the scanner can now image the pelvis, sacroiliac joints, and proximal limbs.
The CT scanner was funded by donations from trusts and legacies facilitated by the RVC’s charity, the Animal Care Trust, which raises funds to improve animal health and care through clinical practice, education and pioneering research. The benefits of the scanner also span veterinary education, advanced postgraduate training of vets and research into conditions affecting horses, ponies and donkeys.
Freddie Dash, RVC lecturer in equine diagnostic imaging, said: “This CT is an improvement on what could be done previously. To begin with, the horse is now standing on the ground and the CT machine is moving. That means the horse is more likely to be still during the examination, resulting in better-quality images. The machine also has a larger diameter to its bore, which means that we can fit more of the horse’s anatomy into the machine and scan areas that weren’t previously possible.
“The CT is also fast, meaning motion artefact is less likely to occur in the time it takes to acquire the scan. It is very good at looking at the soft tissues. Finally, with the new machine, it can be lowered to a height so we can scan the limbs of the horse so we will be able to scan up to and including the carpus and tarsus.”
Dr Dagmar Berner, senior lecturer equine diagnostic imaging at the RVC, said:
“The welfare of our patients will be massively improved because we can now use the CT to get a more precise and potentially earlier diagnosis. For example, to diagnose joint disease and cartilage defects, previously we were able to conduct an MRI or ultrasound in a standing fashion, however, these modalities have their limitations. CT is very sensitive for the diagnosis of cartilage defects. If we have a diagnosis earlier on, we can plan a more precise treatment and catch disease early.
“Additionally, our new CT system has significant benefits for students, residents and interns [postgraduate trainees], providing better training and understanding of certain disease processes, as well as the anatomy of the distal limbs. We are now able to do many more cases – because it’s easier to do them in a standing fashion than previously – so we will be able to gain even more knowledge about disease processes in these areas.”
