Ultrasonographic Grey Scale Analysis (GSA) of the equine uterus - Practical relevance for fertility prognosis

Abstract

In human medicine computer assisted GSA is part of specific examinations like heart transplantation Lieback et al. (1991), hepatic cirrhosis Raeth et al. (1984), evaluation of changes of the thyroid gland Mueller et al. (1989). Hermes et al. (1997, 1998) applied this method in zoo-and wildlife medicine. With computer assisted GSA from ultrasonographic images of the equine endometrium it was possible to distinguish between physiological and inflammatory changed endometrium. The advantages of this method of examination are its non-invasive nature, its repeatability and the fact that it gives immediate results. In addition to this it is possible to analyse regions of interest (ROI) of the entire equine endometrium. Costs and practicability of the equipment are factors which need to be improved in further investigations.