Equine thyroid evaluation using ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging

• Grant number: 14/02437-0
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: May 01, 2014
• End date: April 30, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Animal Clinics and Surgery
• Principal Investigator: Vânia Maria de Vasconcelos Machado
• Grantee: Vânia Maria de Vasconcelos Machado
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (FMVZ). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The ultrasonography (USG) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are fully explored in the diagnosis of thyroid disorders in humans. In horses, the hyperplasia associated with neoplasm is the most common finding among thyroid disorders. In most cases, this change behaves silent, showing up when there is a considerable increase in the volume of the ventrolateral region of the neck. Such manifestation increases the possibility of involvement of structures adjacent to the thyroid, as the trachea, the animal can lead in severe cases to suffocation. The combined application of ultrasonography and MRI can provide valuable data for efficient clinical surgical intervention in these cases. However, there are few data relating to the reference values of such techniques, often hindering an accurate evaluation of the affected gland. So it will establish objective analysis parameters of the thyroid gland in adult horses that don't have thyroid disorders by B-mode ultrasonography and MRI. In the present study, 12 horses (Equus Caballus) from Sector Horse Farming of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, UNESP, Botucatu, will evaluation. The healthiness of the thyroid will be confirmed by laboratory tests (TSH, total T4 and free T4 by equilibrium dialysis) and cytology. The thyroid will initially be examined through ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging considering dimensions, shape, contours, parenchyma and the adjacent structures characteristics assessment. The reference values of characteristics of gland vascularization will be drawn through the tool Doppler examination from USB mode B. The results will be compared and will suggest the methodology that best characterizes each variable analysis common to both techniques (dimensions, shape, contours, parenchyma and the adjacent structures characteristics). (AU)