Encephalic computed tomography evaluation of adult and elderly healthy felines

Abstract

Veterinary medicine has made great technological advances, mainly in the field of diagnostic imaging, with the development of computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. These modalities are of great value in the encephalic evaluation since they provide images without overlapping and at various slice plans. Magnetic resonance imaging provide superior quality images of the brain than computed tomography, however, the high cost and the unavailability of such device in Brazilian veterinary routine, result in a high frequency of indications for tomographic scans. The use of computed tomography is still recent in Brazil and because of it, there are few tomographic studies, especially in animals of the feline specie and elderly individuals. The objective of this study is to provide informations related to the tomographic images of the brain of healthy adult and elderly cats, through the evaluation of qualitative and quantitative variables. It will be used 15 adults (1-10 years old) and elderly (more than 13 years) animals, clinically healthy and with no history of neurological symptoms. Complete blood count, biochemical tests, serology for toxoplasmosis and polymerase chain reaction for the feline leukemia virus and feline immunodeficiency virus will be performed, to confirm the healthiness of the animals. The individuals will be anesthetized and later they will be submitted to a simple and a contrast enhanced computed tomography scan. The tomographic images of the brain will be evaluated for quantitative and qualitative variables, and the most appropriate statistical analysis will be performed after the data collection. (AU)