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Animals
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Imaging Techniques and Radiation Therapy in Veterinary Medicine
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Imaging Techniques and Radiation Therapy in Veterinary Medicine

A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Veterinary Clinical Studies".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 August 2025 | Viewed by 8668

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Massimo Vignoli

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Guest Editor
Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, Località Piano D’ Accio, 64100 Teramo, Italy
Interests: diagnostic imaging; radiology; ultrasound; CT; MRI; PET; radiation therapy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Francesca Del Signore

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, Località Piano D’ Accio, 64100 Teramo, Italy
Interests: ultrasound; magnetic resonance imaging; radiology; computed tomography
Dr. Julia Buchholz

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
IVC Evidensia Small Animal Clinic Hofheim, 65719 Hofheim am Taunus, Germany
Interests: photodynamic therapy in veterinary oncology and veterinary antimicrobial inactivation

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are glad to present you this new Animals Special Issue on Imaging Techniques and Radiation Therapy in Veterinary Medicine.

Imaging techniques play a fundamental role in daily practice to achieve a final diagnosis in companion animals and proper treatment plans.

All the available imaging techniques provide specific information, and it is important to choose the proper technique to confirm or exclude the suspected diagnosis.

This Special Issue of Animals aims to collect new advances in Veterinary Imaging Techniques and Radiation Therapy, facilitating a deeper understanding of specific imaging techniques and more effective treatments for companion animals.

Prof. Dr. Massimo Vignoli
Dr. Francesca Del Signore
Dr. Julia Buchholz
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Animals is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • imaging
  • companion animals
  • radiology
  • ultrasound
  • computer tomography
  • magnetic resonance
  • oncology
  • radiation therapy

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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11 pages, 1239 KiB  
Article
Investigation of Ki-67 and Clinical Outcome in Feline Nasal Adenocarcinoma Treated Using Hypofractionated Radiotherapy
by Premkamon Aonta, Piraya Jaiyangyeun, Wutthiwong Theerapan, Supreeya Srisampan, Charuwan Wongsali, Attawit Kovitvadhi and Tassanee Jaroensong
Animals 2024, 14(24), 3573; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14243573 - 11 Dec 2024
Viewed by 732
Abstract
Ki-67 has been reported as a prognostic marker in human cancers treated using RT. The current study investigated the prognostic significance of Ki-67 expression and its association with clinicopathological characteristics in 19 cats diagnosed with nasal adenocarcinoma and treated using hypofractionated RT. Data [...] Read more.
Ki-67 has been reported as a prognostic marker in human cancers treated using RT. The current study investigated the prognostic significance of Ki-67 expression and its association with clinicopathological characteristics in 19 cats diagnosed with nasal adenocarcinoma and treated using hypofractionated RT. Data collected encompassed signalment, clinical signs, clinicopathological variables, treatment outcomes, and survival times. Median survival times (MST) were estimated using Kaplan–Meier curves and analyzed based on the log-rank test. Based on the results, white blood cell counts were significantly (p < 0.001) higher before treatment than after, although this was not associated with survival time. The overall MST was 550 days (range: 56–1118 days). Cats achieving a favorable response (complete or partial response) had significantly (p = 0.006) longer survival times (1055 days) than those with a poor response (stable or progressive disease; 369 days). Cats with high Ki-67 expression had significantly (p = 0.028) longer survival times (1055 days) than those with low Ki-67 expression (256 days). These results suggested that Ki-67 may be a potential prognostic factor for feline nasal adenocarcinoma. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Imaging Techniques and Radiation Therapy in Veterinary Medicine)
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14 pages, 3656 KiB  
Article
Strain Elastography Evaluation of Patellar Tendons in Dogs after TPLO/TTA for Cranial Cruciate Ligament Rupture, Qualitative and Semiquantitative Evaluation Compared with Healthy Subjects
by Francesca Del Signore, Stefania De Dominicis, Camilla Smoglica, Martina Rosto, Andrea De Bonis, Andrea Paolini and Massimo Vignoli
Animals 2024, 14(20), 2946; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14202946 - 12 Oct 2024
Viewed by 690
Abstract
Strain elastography (SE) evaluates tissue stiffness, providing qualitative and semiquantitative evaluation, with a strain ratio (SR) > 1 indicating that the target lesion is stiffer than the reference tissue. The patellar tendon has been described as soft in healthy dogs and hard in [...] Read more.
Strain elastography (SE) evaluates tissue stiffness, providing qualitative and semiquantitative evaluation, with a strain ratio (SR) > 1 indicating that the target lesion is stiffer than the reference tissue. The patellar tendon has been described as soft in healthy dogs and hard in dogs with cranial cruciate ligament rupture, but SR usefulness has not been assessed. Dogs were divided into healthy (G1) and at least 1 month after surgery (G2) groups. Thickness was recorded, and a B-mode score of 0–3 was determined based on the abnormality’s severity. SE was qualitatively performed with a score of 1–4, and EI was recorded on the whole ligament and in proximal, intermediate and distal areas; SR was collected with the fat pad and cutis/subcutis. G1 was significantly thinner, with a lower score than G2 and a more elastic pattern. EI for G1 was significantly lower than G2 for the whole tendon and the single portions, and EI for the distal portion was significantly lower than the proximal and intermediate one in G2. SR was <1 in G1 and >1 in G2 for both the fat pad and cutis/subcutis. These data suggest that after surgery, the tendon may become non-uniformly stiffer. The cutis/subcutis appears to be a more reliable reference tissue than the infrapatellar fat pad. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Imaging Techniques and Radiation Therapy in Veterinary Medicine)
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13 pages, 5955 KiB  
Article
Histological and Molecular Biological Changes in Canine Skin Following Acute Radiation Therapy-Induced Skin Injury
by Sang-Yun Lee, Gunha Hwang, Moonyeong Choi, Chan-Hee Jo, Seong-Ju Oh, Yeung Bae Jin, Won-Jae Lee, Gyu-Jin Rho, Hee Chun Lee, Sung-Lim Lee and Tae Sung Hwang
Animals 2024, 14(17), 2505; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14172505 - 29 Aug 2024
Viewed by 1186
Abstract
Radiation therapy is a crucial cancer treatment, but it can damage healthy tissues, leading to side effects like skin injuries and molecular alterations. This study aimed to elucidate histological and molecular changes in canine skin post-radiation therapy (post-RT) over nine weeks, focusing on [...] Read more.
Radiation therapy is a crucial cancer treatment, but it can damage healthy tissues, leading to side effects like skin injuries and molecular alterations. This study aimed to elucidate histological and molecular changes in canine skin post-radiation therapy (post-RT) over nine weeks, focusing on inflammation, stem cell activity, angiogenesis, keratinocyte regeneration, and apoptosis. Four male beagles received a cumulative radiation dose of 48 Gy, followed by clinical observations, histological examinations, and an RT-qPCR analysis of skin biopsies. Histological changes correlated with clinical recovery from inflammation. A post-RT analysis revealed a notable decrease in the mRNA levels of Oct4, Sox2, and Nanog from weeks 1 to 9. VEGF 188 levels initially saw a slight increase at week 1, but they had significantly declined by week 9. Both mRNA and protein levels of COX–2 and Keratin 10 significantly decreased over the 9 weeks following RT, although COX–2 expression surged in the first 2 weeks, and Keratin 10 levels increased at weeks 4 to 5 compared to normal skin. Apoptosis peaked at 2 weeks and diminished, nearing normal by 9 weeks. These findings offer insights into the mechanisms of radiation-induced skin injury and provide guidance for managing side effects in canine radiation therapy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Imaging Techniques and Radiation Therapy in Veterinary Medicine)
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10 pages, 946 KiB  
Communication
Optimization of Fair Arterial Spin Labeling Magnetic Resonance Imaging (ASL-MRI) for Renal Perfusion Quantification in Dogs: Pilot Study
by Amber Hillaert, Luis Carlos Sanmiguel Serpa, Yangfeng Xu, Myriam Hesta, Stephanie Bogaert, Katrien Vanderperren and Pim Pullens
Animals 2024, 14(12), 1810; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14121810 - 17 Jun 2024
Viewed by 1043
Abstract
Arterial spin labeling (ASL) MRI allows non-invasive quantification of renal blood flow (RBF) and shows great potential for renal assessment. To our knowledge, renal ASL-MRI has not previously been performed in dogs. The aim of this pilot study was to determine parameters essential [...] Read more.
Arterial spin labeling (ASL) MRI allows non-invasive quantification of renal blood flow (RBF) and shows great potential for renal assessment. To our knowledge, renal ASL-MRI has not previously been performed in dogs. The aim of this pilot study was to determine parameters essential for ALS-MRI-based quantification of RBF in dogs: T1, blood (longitudinal relaxation time), λ (blood tissue partition coefficient) and TI (inversion time). A Beagle was scanned at 3T with a multi-TI ASL sequence, with TIs ranging from 250 to 2500 ms, to determine the optimal TI value. The T1 of blood for dogs was determined by scanning a blood sample with a 2D IR TSE sequence. The water content of the dog’s kidney was determined by analyzing kidney samples from four dogs with a moisture analyzer and was subsequently used to calculate λ. The optimal TI and the measured values for T1,blood, and λ were 2000 ms, 1463 ms and 0.91 mL/g, respectively. These optimized parameters for dogs resulted in lower RBF values than those obtained from inline generated RBF maps. In conclusion, this study determined preliminary parameters essential for ALS-MRI-based RBF quantification in dogs. Further research is needed to confirm these values, but it may help guide future research. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Imaging Techniques and Radiation Therapy in Veterinary Medicine)
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11 pages, 8471 KiB  
Article
Two-Dimensional Shear-Wave Elastography of the Thyroid in Clinically Healthy Dogs in Different Age Groups
by Denise Jaques Ramos, Tamiris Disselli, Diego Rodrigues Gomes, Luiz Paulo Nogueira Aires, Stéfany Tagliatela Tinto, Diana Villa Verde Salazar, Mariane Magno Ferreira Pereira, Brenda Santos Pompeu de Miranda, Ana Paula Luiz de Oliveira, Bruna Bressianini Lima, Ricardo Andres Ramirez Uscategui and Marcus Antônio Rossi Feliciano
Animals 2024, 14(11), 1528; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14111528 - 22 May 2024
Viewed by 1205
Abstract
The thyroid of dogs has not been extensively studied in 2D shear-wave elastography, making it challenging to apply this technique in the diagnosis of thyroid diseases in a non-invasive manner. The aim of this study is to evaluate the thyroid glands of healthy [...] Read more.
The thyroid of dogs has not been extensively studied in 2D shear-wave elastography, making it challenging to apply this technique in the diagnosis of thyroid diseases in a non-invasive manner. The aim of this study is to evaluate the thyroid glands of healthy dogs using 2D shear-wave elastography in order to establish qualitative and quantitative parameters of tissue stiffness in dogs in different age groups. A total of 31 dogs of various breeds, sexes, and sizes were evaluated. Animals with clinical signs or ultrasound findings indicative of endocrine disease or thyroid lesions were excluded from the study. The shear-wave velocity data in meters per second (m/s) and color elastograms were evaluated and calculated using QelaXto™ 2D software. A healthy thyroid exhibits a blue-color elastogram, indicative of low stiffness. The reference range for the shear-wave velocity of thyroid tissue assessed by 2D shear-wave elastography can be between 1.6 and 2.0 m/s, with a variation of ±0.889 in adult and senior dogs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Imaging Techniques and Radiation Therapy in Veterinary Medicine)
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11 pages, 2321 KiB  
Article
A New Method to Detect Buffalo Mastitis Using Udder Ultrasonography Based on Deep Learning Network
by Xinxin Zhang, Yuan Li, Yiping Zhang, Zhiqiu Yao, Wenna Zou, Pei Nie and Liguo Yang
Animals 2024, 14(5), 707; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14050707 - 23 Feb 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1759
Abstract
Mastitis is one of the most predominant diseases with a negative impact on ranch products worldwide. It reduces milk production, damages milk quality, increases treatment costs, and even leads to the premature elimination of animals. In addition, failure to take effective measures in [...] Read more.
Mastitis is one of the most predominant diseases with a negative impact on ranch products worldwide. It reduces milk production, damages milk quality, increases treatment costs, and even leads to the premature elimination of animals. In addition, failure to take effective measures in time will lead to widespread disease. The key to reducing the losses caused by mastitis lies in the early detection of the disease. The application of deep learning with powerful feature extraction capability in the medical field is receiving increasing attention. The main purpose of this study was to establish a deep learning network for buffalo quarter-level mastitis detection based on 3054 ultrasound images of udders from 271 buffaloes. Two data sets were generated with thresholds of somatic cell count (SCC) set as 2 × 105 cells/mL and 4 × 105 cells/mL, respectively. The udders with SCCs less than the threshold value were defined as healthy udders, and otherwise as mastitis-stricken udders. A total of 3054 udder ultrasound images were randomly divided into a training set (70%), a validation set (15%), and a test set (15%). We used the EfficientNet_b3 model with powerful learning capabilities in combination with the convolutional block attention module (CBAM) to train the mastitis detection model. To solve the problem of sample category imbalance, the PolyLoss module was used as the loss function. The training set and validation set were used to develop the mastitis detection model, and the test set was used to evaluate the network’s performance. The results showed that, when the SCC threshold was 2 × 105 cells/mL, our established network exhibited an accuracy of 70.02%, a specificity of 77.93%, a sensitivity of 63.11%, and an area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUC) of 0.77 on the test set. The classification effect of the model was better when the SCC threshold was 4 × 105 cells/mL than when the SCC threshold was 2 × 105 cells/mL. Therefore, when SCC ≥ 4 × 105 cells/mL was defined as mastitis, our established deep neural network was determined as the most suitable model for farm on-site mastitis detection, and this network model exhibited an accuracy of 75.93%, a specificity of 80.23%, a sensitivity of 70.35%, and AUC 0.83 on the test set. This study established a 1/4 level mastitis detection model which provides a theoretical basis for mastitis detection in buffaloes mostly raised by small farmers lacking mastitis diagnostic conditions in developing countries. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Imaging Techniques and Radiation Therapy in Veterinary Medicine)
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9 pages, 4715 KiB  
Case Report
Application of Palliative Hemostatic Radiotherapy in Canine Unresectable Oral Melanoma: A Case Report
by Myounghun Kim, Inseong Jeong, Gijong Lee, Cheol Park, Youngwhan Kim, Kidong Eom and Jaehwan Kim
Animals 2024, 14(12), 1746; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14121746 - 9 Jun 2024
Viewed by 1232
Abstract
A 9-year-old castrated male Schnauzer dog, weighing 11.6 kg, presented with a persistent hemorrhagic oral mass. An oral examination revealed a right maxillary oral mass characterized by continuous bleeding, halitosis, and severe pain. A cytological examination led to a provisional diagnosis of malignant [...] Read more.
A 9-year-old castrated male Schnauzer dog, weighing 11.6 kg, presented with a persistent hemorrhagic oral mass. An oral examination revealed a right maxillary oral mass characterized by continuous bleeding, halitosis, and severe pain. A cytological examination led to a provisional diagnosis of malignant melanoma, and, despite the option of aggressive surgery, the owner declined. The blood analysis indicated severe hemorrhagic anemia (hematocrit, 18.2%) requiring a blood transfusion. The patient underwent volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) as part of a palliative radiation protocol, receiving six fractions of 6 Gy weekly for hemostasis and clinical improvement. The hemorrhaging ceased after the second fraction, with a subsequent rise in the hematocrit levels and the resolution of the anemia. Additionally, the intake increased following the second fraction, and effective pain management was achieved in the fourth fraction. Following the last fraction, computed tomography revealed a 20% reduction in the tumor size. This case highlights the potential use of radiotherapy for hemostasis in cases of inoperable hemorrhagic oral melanoma and represents the first report on the application of hemostatic radiotherapy in dogs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Imaging Techniques and Radiation Therapy in Veterinary Medicine)
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