CT

We are delighted to announce that we now have static CT services within our new site at the Moor Allerton Centre. We can take referrals for CT alone or CT with a view to managing (surgically or medically) the diagnosed condition.

Cases for CT referral include:

• Ear conditions
• Spinal problems
• Nose conditions including persistent nose bleeds, sneezing or facial swellings
• Orthopaedic conditions in particular those involving the knees and elbows
• Screening for metastatic neoplasia

Other Clinical Indications include:

Nasal/sinus disease – helps differentiate neoplasia from rhinitis and guides biopsy

Oncology – Staging and pre-surgical planning – CT is easily done at the same time as core biopsy or lymph node FNA – this is particularly useful for suspected soft tissue sarcomas – in general very useful for giving the following information:

• What is the origin of the mass?
• Where are the margins of the mass?
• Is the mass invading important structures?
• Is underlying bone destruction present?
• Is surgical resection possible?

Thoracic and abdominal met checks – CT is more sensitive than thoracic radiographs and can also be more useful than abdominal ultrasound for bigger dogs or imaging masses in the pelvic inlet/canal CT is particularly useful for mediastinal and lung masses.

Middle/inner ear evaluation - determines middle or inner ear disease, can identify chronic changes and neoplasia – can help to guide the choice of surgical procedure.

Skull trauma – good sensitivity for fracture identification and brain haemorrhage (NB. IV contrast contraindicated in some cases where raised ICP is suspected).

Brain scans – CT allows visualisation of most brain tumours and is useful for first line imaging, but is less sensitive than MRI for tumours, inflammatory, and vascular conditions.

Endocrine - With contrast enhancement, CT is very sensitive at detecting pituitary macroadenomas since the
pituitary gland does not have a blood-brain barrier and will readily contrast enhance.

Neurology – when combined with myelography, CT is good at detecting intervertebral disc prolapse/extrusion and degeneration as well as spinal fractures and bony abnormalities – MRI is more sensitive for assessment of the spinal cord itself.

Lameness diagnosis – CT is much more sensitive than radiographs for the forelimbs, particularly elbows and
shoulders, and is also very useful for assessing the pelvis and hips.

The CT scanner is based at: