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COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY OF TOOTH RESORPTION IN CATS
Linda G Lang1, Thomas E Wilkinson2, Tammy L White3
1Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, the Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523. llangvet@yahoo.com.
Summary
Computed tomography (CT) shows good accuracy in identifying feline tooth resorption, but its sensitivity is low for early detection. This imaging technique is specific but not sensitive enough for diagnosing this common cat dental disease.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Dentistry
- Diagnostic Imaging
- Comparative Pathology
Background:
- Feline tooth resorption is a prevalent and painful dental condition in cats.
- Current diagnostic methods, including oral exams and dental radiography, may miss early-stage lesions.
- The utility of computed tomography (CT) for diagnosing feline tooth resorption remains unevaluated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the CT appearance of feline tooth resorption.
- To assess the diagnostic accuracy (sensitivity and specificity) of CT for detecting tooth resorption in cats.
- To compare CT findings against the established gold standard of oral examination and intraoral dental radiography.
Main Methods:
- Prospective, descriptive diagnostic accuracy study involving 28 feline cadaver specimens.
- Specimens underwent oral examination, intraoral dental radiography, and multi-slice thickness CT.
- Histopathology was used to confirm resorption in a subset of teeth.
Main Results:
- CT identified tooth resorption as hypoattenuating defects, typically at the root or cementoenamel junction.
- CT demonstrated good to excellent specificity (92.8-96.3%) for detecting tooth resorption.
- CT exhibited fair to poor sensitivity (42.2-57.7%) in identifying tooth resorption.
Conclusions:
- Computed tomography has high specificity but low sensitivity for detecting feline tooth resorption.
- CT can characterize the appearance of tooth resorption but is not a sufficiently sensitive standalone diagnostic tool for early detection.
- Further research may explore optimized CT protocols or combination with other modalities for improved feline tooth resorption diagnosis.
