Study maps normal CT appearance of palatine tonsils in dogs

A new retrospective study in the Journal of Small Animal Practice describes CT features of presumed normal palatine tonsils in 140 dogs, aiming to give clinicians a baseline for what “normal” looks like on head CT. The authors reviewed pre- and post-contrast CT studies from dogs without tonsillar disease, assessed enhancement patterns and visibility against surrounding soft tissues, and measured attenuation, width, height, and length. They also looked at how tonsil size related to age, bodyweight, skull conformation, and concurrent regional disease, and established bodyweight-based size ranges for dogs weighing up to 10 kg, 10.1 to 25 kg, and more than 25 kg. (lifescience.net)

Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, the value is practical: palatine tonsils can be easy to overlook on CT, yet they matter in workups for oropharyngeal disease, cervical masses, inflammation, and cancer staging. Prior imaging literature on canine tonsils has been limited, with MRI data on presumed normal tonsils published in 2019 and a smaller CT-focused neoplasia series showing that tonsillar tumors may be present even when the tonsil itself is not obviously enlarged, particularly when regional lymphadenomegaly is seen. A normal CT reference set could therefore help radiologists and clinicians distinguish expected variation from findings that warrant closer oral exam, sampling, or follow-up imaging. (ovid.com)

What to watch: The next step will be whether these reference values are validated against dogs with confirmed tonsillitis, hyperplasia, or neoplasia, and whether they improve diagnostic accuracy in routine head and neck CT interpretation. (lifescience.net)