Intervertebral disc extrusion in small-breed dogs frequently results in bilateral distribution of extruded material. Computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging may be necessary to delineate completely the distribution of extruded disc material in IDE.

An ultrasound pattern of corrugated, and sometimes thickened, bowel wall has been associated with pancreatitis and small intestinal lymphangiectasia. In a retrospective study, records of dogs and cats with an ultrasound diagnosis of corrugated bowel were examined for age, breed, gender, presenting complaint, abdominal radiographic results, and final diagnosis. Eighteen dogs and six cats had an ultrasound diagnosis of corrugated bowel. The final diagnosis was pancreatitis (12 of 24), peritonitis (4 of 24), enteritis (2 of 24), pancreatic neoplasia (2 of 24), diffuse abdominal neoplasia (1 of 24), lymphocytic-plasmacytic enteritis (1 of 24), thrombosis/infarction (1 of 24), and protein-losing enteropathy and acute renal failure (1 of 24). The presence of bowel wall corrugation, although a nonspecific finding, should alert one-to the possibility of pancreatitis, enteritis, peritonitis, neoplasia, or bowel wall ischemia.

A multicenter, retrospective study was undertaken to evaluate contrast radiographic findings in canine bacterial discospondylitis. Records and myelograms or epidurograms of 27 patients were obtained from five colleges of veterinary medicine. Fifteen cases (56%) were evaluated as having some degree of spinal cord compression. The majority (73.3%) of the cases had only soft tissue as the compressive mass. The median compression for all cases was 5% of the vertebral canal. No difference was noted for compression based on anatomical site (i.e., cervical versus thoracolumbar versus lumbosacral). No significant correlation between degree of lesion compression and clinical outcome was noted, but there was a trend toward increased mortality with greater compression. There was no correlation between the ambulatory status and the ultimate outcome. Three of the 15 (20%) cases showed vertebral subluxation. Results of this study indicate that static spinal cord compression is not a significant component of the neurological dysfunction associated with bacterial discospondylitis. Identification of vertebral subluxation in some patients may indicate a dynamic lesion that should be evaluated with stress radiography.

A three-year-old, male neutered domestic longhair cat was referred for evaluation of icterus, vomiting, and anorexia. Abdominal ultrasonography revealed a proximal duodenal mass obstructing the common bile duct. The mass was surgically resected, and a cholecystoduodenostomy was performed. The histopathological diagnosis was osteosarcoma. Thoracic radiographs showed no evidence of metastasis, and bone scintigraphy revealed no signs of a primary skeletal osteosarcoma. Four months after surgery, the cat had intermittent vomiting, marked weight loss, and died.

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Squamous cell carcinoma is the fourth most common neoplasm in cats. As in man, local resective surgery of stage III and IV carcinoma often results in recurrence related to compromised margins. Radical resective procedures may be performed when reconstructive techniques are available to restore cosmesis and function. A platysma myocutaneous flap that was based on a cutaneous branch of the caudal auricular artery and vein was developed to fulfill this requirement. Control flaps, which included ligation and division of the caudal auricular artery and vein, were similarly developed on the contralateral aspect of the neck. Mean survival of all platysma myocutaneous flaps (86.7%), compared with control flaps (62.9%), was significantly different (p < .05). Flaps grouped in lengths of 6, 9, and 12 cm had mean survival lengths of 93.8%, 81.9%, and 84.4%, respectively. The mean survival length of flaps measuring 12 cm in length was significantly different (p < .05) compared with flaps measuring 6 and 9 cm. On the basis of the results of this study, the platysma myocutaneous flap based on a cutaneous branch of the caudal auricular artery and vein may be a source of tissue for reconstructive procedures of the head and neck in cats.

Cutaneous arterial blood supply to the temporal region was evaluated in 8 dogs and 8 cats. Subtraction radiography and angiography of the carotid and superficial temporal arteries were used in 4 dogs and 4 cats to determine arterial blood supply to the temporal region and frontalis muscle. A myocutaneous axial pattern flap based on the superficial temporal artery and frontalis muscle may be indicated for cosmetic reconstruction in dogs and cats following surgical resection of neoplastic lesions or traumatic wounds in the maxillofacial region. The frontalis muscle was identified as the thin subcutaneous continuation of the platysma muscle extending cranially and rostrally. Dissection of the temporal region in 4 dogs and 4 cats revealed the subcutaneous location of the superficial temporal artery as it continues rostrally from the caudal aspect of the zygomatic arch.

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