Effect of ambulation following 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose injection on standing positron emission tomography of the healthy equine digit

Abstract

OBJECTIVE Measure 18F-FDG uptake in digital tissues of healthy horses subjected to different ambulatory conditions between the time of injection and positron emission tomography (PET) scan acquisition. ANIMALS 8 healthy adult horses. METHODS Horses were walked (AMB) or tied in stalls (NONAMB) immediately after injection with ~1.5 MBq/kg 18F-FDG until scan acquisition using a randomized crossover design. Steps were quantified using accelerometers. Standardized uptake values (SUV; mean and maximum) in digital tissues including the dorsal lamellae (proximal, middle, and distal), quarter lamellae (medial and lateral), and coronary band were analyzed using a mixed-effects linear regression model. RESULTS Mean (95% CI) step count for AMB (569[484–653]) was higher than NONAMB (88[24–152]) P =