Eyes from brachycephalic dogs were studied by acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) elastography to establish quantitative and qualitative reference values related to the shape and rigidity of some ocular structures. Eighty-four eyes from 42 adult brachycephalic dogs were included in this study. Animals were subjected to physical, laboratory, and ophthalmic examinations. Following confirmation of good health, the dogs were subjected to ultrasonography and ARFI elastography, emphasizing the optic nerve, ciliary body, and lens. On qualitative elastography, homogeneous characteristics were observed on the ciliary body and optic nerve. Aqueous and vitreous humors were visualized as mosaic-like images. Quantitative elastography showed the mean optic nerve shear wave velocity (SWV) was 1.01±0.27m/s, temporal ciliary body was 0.91±0.24m/s, and nasal ciliary body was 0.91±0.3m/s. The SWV of the lens values were out of range, this value was not detectable by this software. Elastography has proved to be a non-invasive procedure and feasible in dogs. The establishmentof the parameters of degree of rigidity of ocular structures will serve as a baseline for animals with eye disorders. Results may be extrapolated to primary research on the applicability of ARFI in the evaluation of ocular bulb in humans.

Regular instillation of 0.1 or 0.5% metronidazole had a significant inhibitory effect for CNV on chemical burns induced in a rat model.

No abstract

Background: Ocular lymphoma can affect the iris, conjunctiva, choroid, and retina and is mostly associated with multicentric disease. Elastography is an ultrasound technique that provides noninvasive, pain-free assessment of tissue stiffness. It has the ability to assess subtle changes throughout the organ as well as focal lesions. Microbubble contrast ultrasound enables the detection of incipient vascular flows, which are difficult to detect using traditional ultrasound methods. This study aimed to describe acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) elastography and microbubble contrast ultrasound findings in the eyes of two dogs diagnosed with intraocular T-cell lymphoma. Cases: Case 1. Physical examination revealed an exophytic mass in the left eye. Schirmer test revealed a secretion of 22 mm/min. Negative threat reflex, glare, direct pupillary light reflex, and consensual response were also noted. Biomicroscopy revealed hyperplasia of the third eyelid, overlapping with the affected eye. When the membrane was removed, moderate conjunctival hyperemia, mucoid secretion, and buphthalmia were observed. In addition, significant corneal edema was present, making it impossible to visualize the anterior chamber and perform fundus examination. The intraocular pressure, as measured with a rebound tonometer, was 39 mmHg. B-mode ultrasonography identified amorphous, hyperechoic, and heterogeneous structures throughout the anterior chamber, iris, and ciliary body. The elastogram showed that the mass had greenish tones and intermediate stiffness, and the mean SWV of the ciliary body and iris was 2 m/s. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) revealed vascularization of the neoformation region, with wash-in, peak, and wash-out values of 9.89 s, 24.56 s, and 107.87 s, respectively. Case 2. On physical examination, a change in the shape of the right pupil was observed. Schirmer test revealed a secretion of 20 mm/min, with negative threat, glare, and pupillary reflexes to direct and consensual light. Biomicroscopy revealed neoformation from 7 am to 11 am in the sclera, retina, and choroid complex, concomitant with dyscoria and conjunctival hyperemia. The intraocular pressure, as measured by rebound tonometry, was 33 mmHg. Fundoscopy revealed a mass in the temporal region and focal retinal detachment. No changes were observed in the contralateral eye. B-mode ultrasound revealed an increase in volume in the temporal region of the iris, ciliary body, and choroid with diffuse heterogeneity and partial retinal detachment. Elastographic examination revealed shades of green and yellow compatible with increased tissue stiffness. On quantitative examination, the mean SWVs of the ciliary body and iris were 3.14 m/s. On CEUS, the neoformation region presented wash-in, peak, and wash-out values of 8.67 s, 22.33 s, and 80.20 s. Discussion: B-mode ultrasonography established the tumor extent and evaluated echogenicity, verifying the involved ocular structures. The examination played an important role in the diagnosis as well as clinical management. ARFI elastography can detect small tissue changes, helping to define nodules and masses more reliably, in addition to allowing the verification of tissue stiffness. In both dogs, it was possible to verify that the masses presented greater rigidity than the adjacent tissues both qualitatively and quantitatively. In previous studies, it was found that cutaneous and breast lymphomas in humans were more rigid than adjacent tissues on elastography. This increase in rigidity and heterogeneity observed on elastograms can be explained by the extramedullary interactions of the matrix in T-cell lymphomas. Tumor growth is dependent on the blood supply, which was evaluated using CEUS in these cases. Furthermore, the ciliary body contrast filling times were longer than those described in normal dogs. Keywords: eye, surgery, diagnostic imaging, pain, veterinary ophthalmology, neoplasia. Título: Linfoma intraocular em cães - achados da ultrassonografia contrastada e elastografia  ARFI Descritores: olho, cirurgia, diagnóstico por imagem, dor, oftlamologia veterinária, neoplasia.

RESUMO: O objetivo deste estudo foi descrever os resultados a longo prazo do uso da técnica extracapsular TightRope (TR) modificada no tratamento da doença do ligamento cruzado cranial (LCCr) em oito cães (10 articulações) com peso corporal variando entre 4kg e 28kg. Todos os animais selecionados foram submetidos aos exames ortopédicos específicos, sendo diagnosticada ruptura completa do LCCr pelos testes de gaveta e de compressão tibial. Realizaram-se exames radiográficos convencionais e em posição de estresse das articulações. A técnica TR foi modificada utilizando-se o fio de náilon substituindo o fio de fibra empregado na técnica original, facilitando a disponibilidade de obtenção do material. Houve também modificação na origem da perfuração do túnel tibial, sendo realizada imediatamente cranial ao sulco do tendão extensor digital longo. Todos os cães foram submetidos ao exame radiográfico tanto no pós-operatório imediato como no tardio. Aos 30 dias após a intervenção cirúrgica, os pacientes apresentavam claudicação nos membros pélvicos operados de grau discreto a moderado. Foi observado discreto movimento de gaveta cranial em 60% das articulações acometidas. Aos três meses após o procedimento cirúrgico, os animais apresentaram ausência de dor e discreta redução na amplitude dos movimentos articulares. Em duas articulações (20%) observou-se discreto deslocamento cranial da tíbia no teste de gaveta. Nesta fase, 80% dos membros avaliados apresentavam apoio normal. Um ano após a intervenção cirúrgica, observou-se ao exame radiográfico discreta progressão da doença articular degenerativa em 50% das articulações operadas. Das oito articulações avaliadas a longo prazo, em apenas um membro operado observou-se discreta claudicação com reduzida transferência de peso para o membro contralateral. Os demais membros pélvicos avaliados (87,5%) demonstraram ausência de claudicação e adequada recuperação da função articular. Concluiu-se que a técnica cirúrgica extracapsular TR modificada mostrou-se efetiva como opção de tratamento para doença do LCCr em cães de porte pequeno e médio, não apresentando complicações. As modificações do fio cirúrgico e da perfuração da tíbia na técnica TR parecem ter efeitos positivos na estabilização da articulação do joelho.

Background: Contrast Enchantment Ultrasonography (CEUS) allows for detection of vascular flows that are difficult to detect with traditional methods. There were no reports found in the literature of the use of CEUS to evaluate the vascular pattern of the eye of brachycephalic dogs. The objective of this paper is to describe ultrasound findings observed in the eyes of healthy brachycephalic dogs subjected to CEUS.Materials, Methods & Results: Thirty adult brachycephalic dogs were subjected to physical, laboratorial, and ophthalmic examination. The eye structures were evaluated using CEUS after intravenous administration of Sonovue®. Contrast enhancement was seen in 52 eyes with a homogeneous and centrifugal filling pattern. Structures adequately enhanced consisted of the optic nerve, the retina-choroid-sclera complex (RCSC), and the ciliary body. The optic nerve was hyperenhanced and the other structures were isoenhanced.  The wash-in time, peak enhancement time, and wash-out time were similar for both right and left eyes. Mean values and standard deviation were calculated for contrast wash-in time, peak enhancement time, and wash-out time in the optic nerve, RCSC, and ciliary body.Discussion: Ultrasound is an important diagnostic resource for veterinary ophthalmology and provides relevant information for the detection of pathological conditions of the eyes of animals. The contrast-enhanced ultrasound allows evaluation of tissues at the capillary level (macro and microcirculation), complementing the vascular ultrasound scan. This study brings original information on contrast-enhanced ultrasound findings for evaluation of eyes in dogs, creating novel diagnostic possibilities for the use of this imaging technique in veterinary ophthalmology. The vascular pattern identified in this study, with enhancement starting at the region of the optic nerve and retina, and then ciliary body (with the optic nerve as the most hyperenhanced structure) is consistent with the expected pattern for dogs without ophthalmic disorders. The posterior ciliary artery is primarily responsible for supplying the optic nerve, later irrigating the retina, lateral and medial segments of the ciliary body. Some works on the evaluation of orbital vascular pattern in humans report a significant variability on anatomical course of the ophthalmic artery and its branches. However, in our study, no significant variation was observed on vascular flow of dogs of different brachycephalic breeds. Retinal blood vessels consist of arteries and veins that emerge from the optic nerve region and from the choroid. Contrast enhancement at the region of the RCSC is justified by the presence of vessels from the choroid that are irrigated by posterior ciliary arteries and drained by vorticose veins, since this structure is responsible for the nutrition of the external portion of the retina. Wash-in, peak enhancement, and wash-out times were similar for right and left eyes owing to anatomical and physiological similarities in vascularization. The homogeneous contrast-filling pattern is of paramount importance, since it will allow differentiation of abnormalities in sick animals, such as partial or total loss of capillarization, which will cause heterogeneity or absence of capillary fill. It will also be important for early diagnosis and evaluation of vascular alterations, especially ischemic changes, especially glaucoma, intraocular neoplasm, progressive retina atrophy, and uveitis. CEUS gives relevant information about the vascular pattern of the eyes of brachycephalic dogs, and is a quick, non-invasive, and safe exam.

Our results show that KCS promotes chromatin remodeling in epithelial cells and lymphocytes on the conjunctival surface of dogs. The changes described in this study are different from those reported for conjunctival cell nuclei of human KCS patients.

Cataract is an important disease on veterinary ophthalmology. Different techniques facilitate the classification of the cataracts, adding information obtained by the conventional eye exam. This review discusses different modalities of ultrasonography methods available for diagnosis and surgical planning in dogs with cataracts. A-Mode ultrasound is used to evaluate thickness and length of the lens. B-Mode also has the capacity to evaluate features of echogenicity, echotexture, position of the lens and the identification of retinal and vitreous degenerations. The ultrasonic biomicroscopy is useful in assessing the anterior capsule and the positioning of the lens. The Doppler method it is useful to detection of vascular changes in patients with cataracts. The elastography method however allows measuring the lens rigidity, which is extremely important for planning and surgical prognosis.