IMAGING DIAGNOSIS--ARTERIAL AND VENOUS THROMBOSES OF THE PROXIMAL LIMB IN TWO THOROUGHBRED RACEHORSES

• Published in: Veterinary radiology & ultrasound 2010-05, Vol.51 (3), p.305-310
• Main Authors: VAUGHAN, BETSY, WHITCOMB, MARY B, PUCHALSKI, SARAH M, POULIN-BRAIM, AMY E, NIETO, JORGE E, GALUPPO, LARRY D
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; arteries; blood veins; brachial; case studies; cranial tibial; cranial tibial vein; diagnostic techniques; disease diagnosis; Female; Forelimb - blood supply; forelimbs; Hindlimb - blood supply; horse diseases; Horse Diseases - diagnostic imaging; Horses; lameness; Lameness, Animal - etiology; Male; median artery; nuclear scintigraphy; racehorses; Radionuclide Imaging; scintigraphy; Staphylococcus aureus; Thoroughbred; thrombosis; Thrombosis - complications; Thrombosis - diagnostic imaging; Thrombosis - veterinary; Ultrasonography; ultrasound; Venous Thrombosis - complications; Venous Thrombosis - diagnostic imaging; Venous Thrombosis - veterinary
• ISSN: 1058-8183; 1740-8261
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1740-8261.2009.01654.x

Thromboses of the cranial tibial vein (Horse 1) and brachial, median, and cranial circumflex humeral arteries (Horse 2) were identified as causes of unilateral lameness in two Thoroughbred racehorses. Nuclear scintigraphy was performed for suspicion of long bone stress fractures but instead allowed identification of unusual areas of increased radiopharmaceutical uptake within soft tissues of the affected limbs. Ultrasonography of these regions allowed identification of occlusive thrombi within a 25 cm length of the cranial tibial vein (Horse 1) and variable lengths of affected arteries in Horse 2. Horse 1 developed secondary infections and was euthanized. Staphylococcus aureus was isolated from all sites. The cause of thrombosis was not identified in Horse 2.