Computed tomography of the upper cheek teeth in horses with infundibular changes and apical infection.
Authors: Veraa S, Voorhout G, Klein W R
Journal: Equine veterinary journal
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Computed tomography of the upper cheek teeth in horses with infundibular changes and apical infection Infundibular changes are commonly seen on CT imaging of equine maxillary cheek teeth, yet their clinical significance remained unclear—particularly whether infundibular caries might predispose teeth to pulpitis and apical infection. Veraa and colleagues used computed tomography to examine maxillary cheek teeth (108–208, 109–209 and 110–210) in 25 horses, statistically correlating the prevalence of infundibular changes with apical infection. Whilst both pathologies occurred with notable frequency and showed similar distribution patterns (clustering in the 109–209 and 110–210 positions), no statistically significant relationship between the two conditions was established, and no lateralised differences were detected. These findings suggest that infundibular changes alone cannot be assumed a direct aetiological factor in apical disease, implying that multiple concurrent factors—potentially including anatomical predisposition, occlusal dynamics, or nutritional influences—likely contribute to both conditions in these posterior maxillary teeth. Clinicians should therefore exercise caution when attributing apical infection solely to infundibular pathology and consider a more multifactorial diagnostic approach when evaluating diseased cheek teeth.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Infundibular changes on CT imaging are common findings and their presence alone may not indicate disease or predict apical infection
- •Teeth 109-209 and 110-210 warrant closer monitoring as they show higher rates of both infundibular changes and apical infection, though the link remains unclear
- •Other underlying causes beyond infundibular caries should be investigated when apical infections are diagnosed, as the two conditions appear to occur independently
Key Findings
- •Infundibular changes were highly prevalent in both normal and diseased maxillary cheek teeth in the study population
- •Apical infection and infundibular changes were both more prevalent in teeth 109-209 and 110-210 compared to 108-208
- •No statistically significant direct relationship between infundibular changes and apical infection could be established
- •No differences in prevalence of either condition were noted between left and right sides