Radiology and scintigraphy

Radiology and, more recently, scintigraphy are important ancillary diagnost ic aids in the diagnosis of a horse with suspected back pain. Although the image quality is restricted by the size of the patient, radiographs have be en used for several decades. With the introduction of modern fast-screen fi lm systems, the quality of the images has greatly improved. These imaging t echniques allow assessment of the anatomy and physiology of structures in t he spine that are difficult or impossible to palpate. This article reviews the techniques and limitations of imaging the equine back, in addition to c orrelating imaging results and clinical findings.