Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
CT scans find foreign objects outside the gut in dogs
By Jones, Jeryl C & Ober, Christopher P·Published in Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association·2007·Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Computed tomographic diagnosis of nongastrointestinal foreign bodies in dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
This study looked at 13 dogs that had foreign objects in parts of their bodies other than the stomach, like the nose, chest wall, throat, and brain. The foreign objects included things like small pieces of plants, grass blades, sticks, cloth fibers, and even a needle. In five of the dogs, the CT scans did not show the foreign objects, but they had reactions that looked like tumors or fungal infections. In eight dogs, the CT scans did reveal the foreign objects based on their shape or structure, and in two cases, special imaging techniques helped show where the objects were in relation to the bones. Overall, the study highlights how CT scans can be useful in diagnosing these types of cases, but not all foreign bodies can be easily identified.
Abstract
Clinical data and computed tomography (CT) studies were reviewed for 13 dogs with confirmed nongastrointestinal foreign bodies. Locations of foreign bodies were the nasal cavity, thoracic wall, retropharyngeal region, and cerebellum. Types of foreign bodies included small plant components, blades of grass, wooden sticks, cloth fibers, and a needle. Foreign bodies in five dogs were not identified on CT, and secondary reactions resembled neoplastic or fungal disease. In eight dogs, foreign bodies were recognized by their shape and/or internal architecture. In two dogs, three-dimensional reformatting helped demonstrate foreign bodies in relation to palpable bony landmarks.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17339287/