Diagnosing a Tooth Root Abscess in a Guinea Pig (Cavia porcellus) Using Micro Computed Tomography Imaging

Dental disease in rodents can be difficult to diagnose based on oral examination and radiography alone, but diagnosis can be aided with computed tomography (CT). An adult guinea pig presented with nonspecific signs of pain, mild exophthalmia, and strabismus. Initial complete blood count, plasma biochemistry, and radiographs were nondiagnostic, so high-resolution micro CT was performed. A diagnosis of a tooth root abscess of the left maxillary third molar and associated osteomyelitis was made based on CT images. Micro CT, which can provide superior resolution over conventional CT, has been used primarily for research purposes in veterinary medicine but proved beneficial in this case.