Advanced imaging - CT scanning

Computed Axial Tomography also know as a CAT scan or CT scan for short is an advanced radiographic imaging modality that allows board certified veterinary surgeons like Dr. Davies to acquire 3D images of your pet at extremely high resolution. These three dimensional images can be viewed at any angle and in any plane allowing Dr. Davies to diagnose problems with your pet that cannot be seen with traditional x-ray technology or with an ultrasound scanner.

Northstar Veterinary Surgery has the latest generation high resolution scanner - the GT30 by Vimago. This model is faster and has a larger acquisition area than previous models allowing us to capture the required anatomy quicker than ever before.

In addition to viewing of the images, we can take these high resolution scans and use them to create and print 3D models and guides for surgical planning/modeling that is unique to your pet.

Common Indications for a CT scan

  • Complex fractures

    • Pelvic fractures

    • Skull/Mandibular fractures

    • Dental imaging

    • Highly comminuted long bone fractures

  • Angular Limb Deformities

    • Assessment and surgical planning

    • Cutting guides

    • Templating guides

  • Neurologic Imaging

    • IVDD - Intervertebral Disc Disease - very common in Dachshunds and French Bulldogs

    • Other Spinal cord compressive lesions (Such as cancer)

    • Brain masses (~80% can be detected)

    • LS Disease

  • Vascular anomalies

    • Portosystemic Shunts

    • PRAA (Persistent Right Aortic Arch)

  • Cancer staging/surgical planning

    • Evaluate invasion of the tumor into surrounding tissues for surgical planning

    • Metastatic cancer evaluation

  • Structural Abnormalities

    • Ectopic ureters

    • Elbow Dysplasia

    • OCD lesions

    • Middle ear disease

Ectopic ureter study - note the enlarged ectopic ureter to image right compared to the normal ureter on image left.

Above images are from a dog with a spinal tumor. The mass was not visible on a plain CT, however is very clear after a myelogram was performed. The arrows denote the mass location. The very white material is the contrast placed in the spinal cord CSF.

Sagittal (top), axial (bottom) and coronal (left) images of an extruded disc from a dog with IVDD. Arrows denote extruded disc material in axial and coronal images. The red arrow in the top image shows a heavily mineralized disc that has not yet ruptured. The green arrow shows the diseased disc space.