Computerized Tomography (CT) as a useful diagnostic tool applied to cetacean¿s pathology on thoracic cavity

Abstract

The use of whole-body postmortem computerized tomography applied in cetaceans is a useful technique that improves conventional necropsy to identify pathologies of the thoracic cavity. In this study 6 stranded animals were used to perform a computerized tomography scan and a necropsy. Of each stranded animal, 9 computerized tomography images were taken in specific angles and analyzed using the methodology of Kuijpers et al (2020) with some adaptions. The aim of this study is to compare pulmonary changes detected retrospectively by PMCT in different cetaceans’ species, founded stranded in the Canary Islands, with the complementary necropsy reports, including comparing the degree and effect of carcass decomposition. Each computerized tomography image was analysed by 4 different people, a veterinary senior radiologist, a veterinary junior radiologist, a senior lecturer on veterinary pathology and a recent graduate veterinary student. This work also compares the results of each profile to determine if this methodology can be used to integrate computerized tomography in the pathological diagnosis of stranded animals by inexperienced or untrained profiles in diagnostic imaging.