Background: Deceased donor liver transplantation (DDLT) and living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) are employed to address highly urgent patients, including those with acute liver failure (ALF), acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF), or critical cirrhosis. This study compares outcomes between LDLT and DDLT patients with ALF, ACLF, or critical cirrhosis in highly urgent LDLT (HU-LDLT) applications. Methods: This study conducted a retrospective analysis of the Korean Network for Organ Sharing (KONOS) data, which included 391 consecutive HU-LDLT applications from 2017 to 2021. Results: The proportion of DDLT was 15.1% (n=59) within the cohort of HU-LDLT applications. The prevalence of hepatorenal syndrome, duration of pre-transplant intensive care unit (ICU) care, incidence of pre-transplant continuous renal replacement therapy, and median model for end-stage liver disease scores were significantly greater and prolonged in DDLT patients compared to LDLT patients. Statistical analysis revealed no significant differences in postoperative complications or overall survival between the two groups. In the multivariate analysis, only pre-transplant ventilator care emerged as a significant predisposing factor for mortality. Conclusion The present study indicates that LDLT is a viable option, yielding comparable perioperative and long-term outcomes to DDLT for HU patients, which can encourage living liver donation to overcome organ shortages in HU patients.

Caudal aberrant turbinate is a relatively common turbinate bone anomaly in brachycephalic breeds with an undetermined etiology. This paper presents a 5-year-old Pug with a history of otitis media and interna, showing left ear discharge and respiratory distress. Radiography and advanced imaging, including computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), revealed bilateral otitis externa and media, an elongated and thickened soft palate, a narrowed nasopharynx, and caudal extension of bilateral turbinate structures into the nasopharynx. MRI also revealed left otitis interna. Twenty-six days later, the patient developed severe respiratory distress with radiographic signs of an increased caudodorsal lung opacity and gastric dilation, indicative of non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema from a chronic airway obstruction. Surgical treatment involved folded flap palatoplasty and left total ear canal ablation. Despite treatment, the dog expired due to the persistent respiratory distress. This case highlights that a caudal aberrant turbinate can contribute to airflow obstruction in brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS), particularly when compounded by other upper airway anomalies. CT imaging is valuable for identifying nasal structural abnormalities, including aberrant turbinates. Accordingly, an awareness of such anatomical variations is critical for the diagnosis and management of brachycephalic breeds presenting BOAS-related symptoms.

An 8-year-old intact male mixed-breed dog presented with a 6-day history of anorexia, lethargy, and vomiting. Antigen testing for Dirofilaria immitis was positive, and circulating microfilaria was detected on a peripheral blood smear. Thoracic radiography showed a normal cardiac silhouette with a generalized bronchial pattern. Abdominal ultrasonography revealed segmental thickening and a loss of layering of the small intestine with marked mesenteric lymphadenopathy. Echocardiography showed heartworms in the main pulmonary artery and an echogenic structure on the right atrial wall. Cardiac computed tomography (CT) angiography (CTA) identified the right atrial structure as a non-enhancing lesion, which was presumed to represent thrombus or granulomatous inflammation. Cardiac CTA confirmed the presence of multiple heartworms and pulmonary thromboembolism and incidentally identified an aneurysmal dilation of the left subclavian artery with a centrally located intimal flap, suggesting an arterial dissection. Abdominal CT revealed a thickened small intestine, fat stranding, and generalized lymphadenopathy. Fine-needle aspiration of a mesenteric lymph node and cytology of the peritoneal fluid confirmed lymphoma. This case presents a rare subclavian artery dissection in a dog with a concurrent heartworm infection and lymphoma and highlights the clinical value of a cardiac CTA protocol for precise visualization of the cardiac and vascular walls.

A 6-year-old intact male Yorkshire Terrier, weighing 5.8 kg, presented with progressive ataxia of the thoracic and pelvic limbs with a four-month duration. A physical examination revealed proprioceptive ataxia and neck pain, with neurological signs indicating a C1–5 lesion. The radiographs revealed mild narrowing of the disc spaces at C2–3, C4–5, and C5–6, suggesting cervical intervertebral disc disease (IVDD). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed bilateral symmetrical enlargement of the C2 nerve roots, causing spinal cord compression and distortion. The post-contrast T1-weighted images showed pronounced contrast enhancement, suggestive of hypertrophic ganglioneuritis. Mild disc protrusions at C4–5, C5–6, and C6–7 were also observed with minimal spinal compression, suggesting a lesser role in the clinical presentation. Considering the MRI findings, high-dose immunosuppressive prednisolone was administered under the tentative diagnosis of hypertrophic ganglioneuritis, leading to significant improvement in mobility and postural reactions. Follow-up MRI performed three months post-treatment revealed a significant decrease in the hypertrophy of the C2 nerve roots and alleviated spinal cord compression. This case underscores the essential role of MRI in differentiating hypertrophic ganglioneuritis from other spinal cord pathologies such as IVDD or spinal nerve tumors.

Metastasis to the mediastinum from axial skeletal osteosarcoma (OSA) is rare in dogs, and extraskeletal osteosarcoma originating from the mediastinum is an extremely rare malignant tumor in the veterinary literature. A 12-year-old Maltese dog was presented with intrathoracic masses on thoracic radiographs. Computed tomography revealed two distinct osteoblastic cranial mediastinal masses and a bone lesion involving the second thoracic vertebra. A biopsy was performed on one of the mediastinal masses. A histopathological examination confirmed the presence of an osteoid matrix with atypical mesenchymal proliferation, consistent with OSA. Accordingly, two potential origins for the mediastinal OSA were considered: vertebral OSA with mediastinal metastasis or primary mediastinal extraskeletal OSA with vertebral metastasis. This case represents a rare occurrence of primary or metastatic OSA in an unusual anatomical location. Radiography and computed tomography examinations are useful for diagnosing tumors with mineralized opacities.

Objective: This study evaluated the relationship between IVD degeneration and the vertebral body FSF in dogs and compared these factors between chondrodystrophic (CD) and nonchondrodystrophic (NCD) dogs. Methods: IVD degeneration in dogs was classified morphologically using the Pfirrmann grade, and the vertebral body FSF was evaluated quantitatively. Results: The vertebral body FSF showed a statistically significant difference among the age groups. The vertebral body FSF was significantly higher in Pfirrmann grades 3–5 than in grades 1 and 2. The mean Pfirrmann grade of CD dogs was higher than that of NCD dogs in the four-to-six-year-old group. The mean vertebral body FSF of CD dogs was higher than that of NCD dogs in the group of seven years and above. Conclusions and Relevance: In dogs, the vertebral body FSF increased significantly with age and Pfirrmann grade. The CD dogs showed a higher degree of IVD degeneration at a younger age than the NCD dogs. CD dogs appeared to experience more severe fat deposition of the vertebral body in old age than NCD dogs. MRI examinations are helpful for evaluating IVD degeneration and vertebral body fat deposition.

Subgaleal hematomas are accumulation of blood between periosteum and galea aponeurosis. A 2-year-old male Chihuahua was presented with a severe head swelling after trauma. Radiography and computed tomography (CT) showed a massive swelling encircling the entire calvarial vault, extending toward the cervical neck and crossing the suture line. It was heterogeneously, mild hyperdense fluid to soft tissue attenuating with contrast enhancement on CT images. On day 4, physical and imaging examination showed resolution of the calvarial swelling. Subgaleal hematoma should be considered as a differential diagnosis when there is a massive soft tissue swelling over the skull on physical and imaging examinations.

Objective: This study evaluated the relationship between IVD degeneration and the vertebral body FSF in dogs and compared these factors between chondrodystrophic (CD) and nonchondrodystrophic (NCD) dogs. Methods: IVD degeneration in dogs was classified morphologically using the Pfirrmann grade, and the vertebral body FSF was evaluated quantitatively. Results: The vertebral body FSF showed a statistically significant difference among the age groups. The vertebral body FSF was significantly higher in Pfirrmann grades 3–5 than in grades 1 and 2. The mean Pfirrmann grade of CD dogs was higher than that of NCD dogs in the four-to-six-year-old group. The mean vertebral body FSF of CD dogs was higher than that of NCD dogs in the group of seven years and above. Conclusions and Relevance: In dogs, the vertebral body FSF increased significantly with age and Pfirrmann grade. The CD dogs showed a higher degree of IVD degeneration at a younger age than the NCD dogs. CD dogs appeared to experience more severe fat deposition of the vertebral body in old age than NCD dogs. MRI examinations are helpful for evaluating IVD degeneration and vertebral body fat deposition.

Objective: This study evaluated the relationship between IVD degeneration and the vertebral body FSF in dogs and compared these factors between chondrodystrophic (CD) and nonchondrodystrophic (NCD) dogs. Methods: IVD degeneration in dogs was classified morphologically using the Pfirrmann grade, and the vertebral body FSF was evaluated quantitatively. Results: The vertebral body FSF showed a statistically significant difference among the age groups. The vertebral body FSF was significantly higher in Pfirrmann grades 3–5 than in grades 1 and 2. The mean Pfirrmann grade of CD dogs was higher than that of NCD dogs in the four-to-six-year-old group. The mean vertebral body FSF of CD dogs was higher than that of NCD dogs in the group of seven years and above. Conclusions and Relevance: In dogs, the vertebral body FSF increased significantly with age and Pfirrmann grade. The CD dogs showed a higher degree of IVD degeneration at a younger age than the NCD dogs. CD dogs appeared to experience more severe fat deposition of the vertebral body in old age than NCD dogs. MRI examinations are helpful for evaluating IVD degeneration and vertebral body fat deposition.

Objective: This study evaluated the relationship between IVD degeneration and the vertebral body FSF in dogs and compared these factors between chondrodystrophic (CD) and nonchondrodystrophic (NCD) dogs. Methods: IVD degeneration in dogs was classified morphologically using the Pfirrmann grade, and the vertebral body FSF was evaluated quantitatively. Results: The vertebral body FSF showed a statistically significant difference among the age groups. The vertebral body FSF was significantly higher in Pfirrmann grades 3–5 than in grades 1 and 2. The mean Pfirrmann grade of CD dogs was higher than that of NCD dogs in the four-to-six-year-old group. The mean vertebral body FSF of CD dogs was higher than that of NCD dogs in the group of seven years and above. Conclusions and Relevance: In dogs, the vertebral body FSF increased significantly with age and Pfirrmann grade. The CD dogs showed a higher degree of IVD degeneration at a younger age than the NCD dogs. CD dogs appeared to experience more severe fat deposition of the vertebral body in old age than NCD dogs. MRI examinations are helpful for evaluating IVD degeneration and vertebral body fat deposition.