Equine Bone Imaging, Part 2: Role of Nuclear Medicine in Racehorses

The horse racing industry, like any sport, must contend with the effects of injuries on an athlete's performance and longevity. Catastrophic fractures linked to preexisting bone fatigue can be prevented with the use of imaging technology, such as the nuclear medicine bone scan. The accessibility and affordability of imaging for racehorses remain obstacles. The conventional role of bone scintigraphy has evolved with the advent of advanced techniques, including MRI, CT, and PET. Concurrently, SPECT has expanded the role of scintigraphy in the racehorse. This article explores the conventional and contemporary role of bone scintigraphy in the racehorse. Some applications are transferrable to other athletic horses (e.g., equestrian) and stock horses. Nuclear medicine planar and SPECT imaging provide valuable insights into underlying causes of pain or lameness and represent an opportunity to prevent catastrophic injuries. The increasing demand for scintigraphy among racehorses also affords an opportunity for role diversity or alternative career pathways for nuclear medicine scientists and technologists.