Fulvio LAUS, Emanuele PAGGI, Matteo CERQUETELLA, Beniamino TESEI

Ultrasonographic evaluation of Cricoarytenoideus lateralis muscle in Standardbred horse

The cricoarytenoideus lateralis muscle (CALM) is an adductor of the arytenoid cartilages but is not directly involved in the pathogenesis of recurrent laryngeal neuropathy (RLN) as the abductor cricoarytenoideus dorsalis muscle (CADM) is. Nevertheless, the CALM is the first muscle to experience a neurogenic atrophy in the course of RLN and this feature explains its potential importance in RLN diagnosis. On 30 gelding and 30 female Standardbred horses weighing about 500 kg and aged between 3 and 9 years, an ultrasound examination of the larynx was performed in order to assess shape, size, and echogenicity of the CALMs. The mean width, thickness, and area of the muscle were respectively 1.42 cm, 1.23 cm, and 1.36 cm2 for the right side and 1.40 cm, 1.21 cm, and 1.34 cm2 for the left side. No differences were found in relation to sex, age, or difference between right and left muscle. Focal calcifications of thyroid cartilage prevented visualization of the muscles, especially in females.

Anahtar Kelimeler:

Key words: Horse, larynx, ultrasonography, hemiplegia, diagnosis

Ultrasonographic evaluation of Cricoarytenoideus lateralis muscle in Standardbred horse

Keywords:

Key words: Horse, larynx, ultrasonography, hemiplegia, diagnosis,

PDF

___

Morris, E.A., Seeherman, H.J.: Clinical evaluation of poor performance in the racehorse: the results of 275 evaluations. Equine Vet. J., 1991; 23: 169–174.
Martin, B.B. Jr, Reef, V.B., Parente, E.J., Sage, A.D.: Causes of poor performance of horses during training, racing, or showing: 348 cases (1992-1996). J. Am. Vet. Med. Assoc., 2000; 216: 554–558. 3. Chalmers, H.J., Cheetham, J., Yeager, A.E., Ducharme, N.G.: Ultrasonography of the equine larynx. Vet. Radiol. Ultrasound., 2006; 47: 476–481.
Chalmers, H.J., Ducharme, N.G.: Ultrasonographic examination of the upper airway. In: Robinson, N.E., Ed. Current Th erapy in Equine Medicine. 6th edn., Saunders, St. Louis, Missouri, USA. 2009; 243–249. 5. Rudorf, H., Brown, P.: Ultrasonography of laryngeal masses in six cats and one dog. Vet. Radiol. Ultrasound., 1998; 39: 430– 434.
Chalmers, H.: Equine laryngeal ultrasound. Proc. of 4th World Equine Airway Symposium, Bern, 2009; 63–67.
Chalmers, H.J., Cheetham, J., Mohammed, H.O., Ducharme, N.G.: Ultrasonography as an aid in the diagnosis of recurrent laryngeal neuropathy in horses. Proc. American College of Veterinary Surgeons Veterinary Symposium, 2006; 3–4.
Garrett, K.S., Woodie, J.B., Embertson, R.M.: Association of treadmill upper airway endoscopic evaluation with results of ultrasonography and resting upper airway endoscopic evaluation. Equine Vet. J., 2011; 43: 365–371.
Ducharme, N.: 4-Grade system for equine laryngeal function. Proc. of Workshop on Equine Recurrent Laryngeal Neuropathy, 2003; 21–23.