DIAGNOSTIC-IMAGING OF OSTEOCHONDROSIS

Osteochondrosis is a disease that affects cartilage formation and may cause clinical signs in young, rapidly growing animals of many species .(17) Osteochondrosis in dogs is most frequently reported in the gleno humeral (shoulder), elbow, tarsal, and the stifle joints respectively. (16,17,29) 17 29 This article addresses imaging of the glenohumeral, e lbow, tarsal, and stifle joints. The imaging modalities discussed are survey radiography, contrast arthrography, linear tomography, ultrasou nd, computed tomography, scintigraphy, and magnetic resonance. Each jo int is discussed separately. The general application and limitation of contrast arthrography, scintigraphy, ultrasound, magnetic resonance, and computed tomography are discussed under separate headings. The mod ern imaging technology has become readily available to veterinary medi cine during the last decade. Magnetic resonance and computed tomograph y are being used with greater frequency for evaluation of lesions in t he nervous system. Musculoskeletal system disease in the extremities i s best studied using conventional radiography, but several reports hav e been published on the use of computed tomography(7,39,51) and magnet ic resonance(42,44,45) in veterinary medicine. The use of these modali ties may be used for detection of osteochondritis dissecans in early s tages of development when the opportunity for treatment is optimal.