Ultrasound features of arytenoid chondritis in Thoroughbred horses.
Authors: Garrett K S, Embertson R M, Woodie J B, Cheetham J
Journal: Equine veterinary journal
Summary
# Arytenoid Chondritis: Defining Ultrasonographic Diagnostic Parameters Arytenoid chondritis represents a significant cause of upper airway obstruction and exercise intolerance in Thoroughbreds, yet laryngeal ultrasonography had not been systematically evaluated as a diagnostic tool despite its potential clinical utility. Garrett and colleagues compared ultrasound findings of the arytenoid cartilages between horses with endoscopically confirmed chondritis and normal controls, measuring cross-sectional area, echogenicity and cartilage contour to establish reliable imaging parameters. Affected arytenoid cartilages demonstrated significantly increased cross-sectional area alongside abnormal echogenicity and irregular shape compared to healthy tissue (P<0.001), with longitudinal data suggesting these changes are permanent—cartilage size did not normalise over time even when inflammation resolved. These findings establish ultrasonography as a valuable complementary diagnostic tool, particularly useful for quantifying disease extent when medial masses are present and for guiding surgical planning decisions. For practitioners managing horses with suspected upper airway dysfunction, laryngeal ultrasound can now provide objective morphological assessment to support or refute endoscopic findings and help predict whether cartilage damage will result in lasting anatomical compromise.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Ultrasound is a valuable non-invasive diagnostic tool for confirming arytenoid chondritis alongside endoscopy, particularly useful for assessing medial mass extent to guide surgical planning
- •Once arytenoid cartilage enlargement occurs from chondritis, expect permanent size changes rather than return to normal, helping set realistic prognoses for affected horses
- •Ultrasound parameters (cross-sectional area, echogenicity, shape) can be used to differentiate normal from diseased arytenoid cartilages and monitor disease progression
Key Findings
- •Chondritic arytenoid cartilages were significantly larger than normal cartilages (P<0.001)
- •Affected cartilages displayed abnormal echogenicity and shape compared to normal arytenoid cartilages
- •Enlarged arytenoid cartilages did not return to normal size after infection/inflammation resolution in horses with multiple examinations
- •Laryngeal ultrasonography effectively visualizes disease extent and medial masses on arytenoid cartilage surfaces