Objectives The purpose of this study was to determine whether the presence of a splenic mass or a diffusely moth-eaten parenchyma on ultrasonographic scans could represent potential criteria of malignancy in the feline spleen. Methods Feline patients with ultrasonographic images and cytological analysis of the spleen obtained by fine-needle aspiration were retrospectively included in a multicentre study. Results One hundred and ninety-five cats met our inclusion criteria. There was a lack of agreement between the moth-eaten ultrasonographic appearance of the spleen and the presence of a malignant neoplasia on cytological analysis. The sensitivity and specificity of a moth-eaten parenchyma for predicting malignant neoplastic disease were 13.2% and 84.8%, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of a splenic mass >1 cm for predicting malignant neoplastic disease were 21.0% and 94.7%, respectively. A marbled appearance of the splenic parenchyma was significantly more frequent among patients examined with a high-frequency transducer (11-18 MHz) than among those examined with a low-frequency transducer (6.6-10 MHz) (27.6% vs 11.1%, respectively; P = 0.004). Similarly, although not statistically significant, a moth-eaten parenchyma was more frequent in the high-frequency transducer group than in the low-frequency group (17.1% vs 8.9%, respectively; P = 0.09). Conclusions and relevance Based on our findings, a moth-eaten ultrasonographic appearance of the spleen in cats does not necessarily reflect a lymphoma or another malignant neoplastic process on cytological analysis. The presence of a splenic mass >1 cm on ultrasound is suggestive of malignancy in cats. Finally, the transducer frequency must be taken into account when assessing the splenic parenchyma, as a high-frequency transducer seems to improve the detection of a marbled or moth-eaten parenchyma.

While the standard ventrodorsal hip extended radiograph is most commonly used for diagnosis and screening of canine hip dysplasia, it lacks sensitivity to diagnose laxity. To improve the identification of hip joint laxity, distraction-based radiographic techniques are helpful. The Vezzoni modified Badertscher distension device technique allows for a reliable in-house evaluation of canine hip joint laxity.

Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate the repeatability and reproducibility of the radiographical stress technique using the Vezzoni-modified Badertscher distension device (VMBDD). Materials and Methods Stress radiographs of 10 dogs obtained with the VMBDD were performed consecutively by two different operators and then measured twice by a third veterinarian. The technical repeatability was first assessed individually for the two operators who took the stress radiographs, followed by the technical reproducibility. The obtained variances were used to calculate the 95% limits of agreement for the measurement repeatability, the technical repeatability and the technical reproducibility. Results Both the technical repeatability and reproducibility of the VMBDD technique were good, with the 95% limits of agreement of the measurement repeatability and technical repeatability equalling ± 0.07 overall, and the 95% limits of agreement of the technical reproducibility being ± 0.09. Clinical Significance These results, in combination with the previous results for the measurement of the laxity index, support the use of the VMBDD as a reliable in-house evaluation method to assess the hip joint by trained clinicians. For screening purposes, however, we suggest to limit the number of evaluators, to limit the variability.

Even though radiography is one of the most frequently used imaging techniques for orthopaedic disorders, it has been demonstrated that the interpretation can vary between assessors. As such, the purpose of this study was to examine the intraobserver and interobserver agreement and the influence of level of expertise on the interpretation of radiographs of the stifle in dogs with and without cranial cruciate ligament rupture (CCLR). Sixteen observers, divided in four groups according to their level of experience, evaluated 30 radiographs (15 cases with CCLR and 15 control stifles) twice. Each observer was asked to evaluate joint effusion, presence and location of degenerative joint disease, joint instability and whether CCLR was present or absent. Overall, intraobserver and interobserver agreement ranged from fair to almost perfect with a trend towards increased agreement for more experienced observers. Additionally, it was found that stifles that were classified with high agreement have either overt disease characteristics or no disease characteristics at all, in comparison to the ones that are classified with a low agreement. Overall, the agreement on radiographic interpretation of CCLR was high, which is important, as it is the basis of a correct diagnosis and treatment.

Objective This study aimed to analyse the distribution of the laxity indices (LI) in a dog population, to compare the LI with the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) grades and to search for differences of LI between breeds. Study Design The database was composed of all dogs presented to the University Hospital of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in Ghent for obligatory hip screening between January 2016 and February 2019, and all patients presented to orthopaedic consultation between January 2017 and January 2019 for a complaint of hindlimb lameness, which underwent both a standard extended ventrodorsal radiograph of the hips and a stress radiograph revealing hip joint laxity. The latter was obtained by means of the Vezzoni-modified Badertscher distension device and the LI was calculated. For each dog of the population, the LI was then compared with the FCI grade. Results The LI values ranged between 0.15 and 1.04, with a mean of 0.46. The LI and the FCI grade increased together, and showed a moderate-to-good correlation. There was a highly significant overall difference in the mean value of LI per FCI grade group (p < 0.001). The mean LI of the Labrador Retrievers was slightly but significantly lower than the mean LI of the Golden Retrievers (p < 0.01). Conclusion The LI calculated on a stress radiograph taken with the Vezzoni-modified Badertscher distension device shows a good correlation with the FCI grade assigned on a standard extended ventrodorsal projection. A wide range of passive hip joint laxity exists in dogs considered to be phenotypically normal based on the FCI grading method.