Post-mortem CT vs necropsy in feline medicine

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to compare post-mortem CT findings with necropsy findings in domestic cats.

METHODS

Post-mortem CT and necropsies were performed in 20 cadavers of domestic cats. The sensitivity, specificity and agreement between the post-mortem CT and necropsy findings were determined.

RESULTS

There were a total of 315 post-mortem findings; 183 were identified by post-mortem CT and 132 were identified by necropsy. Post-mortem CT demonstrated a higher sensitivity to identify the findings mainly in bones. The higher indices of agreement between post-mortem CT and necropsy were related to abnormalities of pleural space, bones and joints.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

This study demonstrated that post-mortem CT and necropsy provided different information. Thus, their use in conjunction with each other might improve the understanding of the cause of death and the identification of post-mortem lesions.

Enamel corrosion produced by zinc phosphate dental cement

The application of a phosphoric acid solution or of a zinc phosphate cement mix on enamel surface causes alteration of its structure. The lesions of the enamel are cavities of irregular shapes that might retain debris. In view of the high solubility of disintegration of the cement, those cavities can be considered potential sites of plaque installation and initiation of carious processes.