ULTRASONOGRAPHY OF THE CANINE, FELINE AND EQUINE TONGUE - NORMAL FINDINGS AND CASE-HISTORY REPORTS

A submental approach using a 5, 7.5 and 10 MHz mechanical sectorial tr ansducers was used to evaluate the ultrasonographic appearance of the normal and abnormal canine, feline and equine tongue, Seven normal ani mals were used to characterize the in vivo normal ultrasonographic app earance of the oropharynx, Consistently seen anatomical landmarks incl uded the lingual parenchyma, lingual artery, soft and hard palate inte rfaces, mandible, basihyoid bone and sublingual musculature. Seven fre sh canine, feline and equine cadavers were dissected to confirm the ul trasonographic findings, Seven animals with signs of ptyalism, dysphag ia, halitosis and visible lingual lesions were also studied, A foreign body and abscesses secondary to a penetrating wound were detected in a horse, Ultrasound guidance aided surgical dissection, removal of the foreign body and intraoperative drainage of the abscesses. Ultrasound provided valuable non-invasive documentation of the architecture, siz e and margins of six lingual neoplasms, Ultrasonographic monitoring of the response to the treatment of lingual lesions may be beneficial in the management of patients.