Radiographic interpretations of some cardiac affections in dogs

Radiographic examination is still a valuable routine procedure for diagnosing cardiopulmonary diseases and assessing their response to treatment. In the present study, thoracic radiography was carried out on 47 clinical cases of dogs that suffered from cardiac problem- and five apparently healthy mongrel dogs that were used as a control for normal radiography of the canine heart. The diseased dogs were of both sexes and of ages that ranged between 45 days and 12 years. The recorded affections were; persistent right aortic arch [2], microcardia [2], left atrial dilatation [6], right ventricular dilatation [9], generalized cardiomegaly [18], pericardial effusion [8], hypertrophic cardiomyopathy [I] and pneumopericardium [1]. All radiographic findings of both normal and diseased canine hearts were described. Thoracic radiography still constitutes the cornerstone for diagnosing and evaluating cardiopulmonary diseases through providing direct and immediate information about cardiac size and shape, and indirectly through assessing the cardiopulmonary circulation which reflects the degree of heart failure

role of radiography in diagnosing some canine thoracic affections

Radiographic images of the thorax are important for evaluating patients with known or suspected thoracic diseases. Thoracic radiography provides direct information about lesions or abnormalities in lung parenchyma, airways, and pleural and mediastinal spaces. Methodology: The present study was carried out between October 2006 and June 2009. Plain thoracic radiography was done on 82 clinical cases of dogs diagnosed clinically as having respiratory disease. Contrast media was used where indicated. The recorded affections were; pectus excavatum [2], tracheal collapse [5], esophegeal dilatation [9], mediastinal foreign body [2], pneumomediastinum [2], tension pneumothorax [5], pneumothorax [12], hydropneumothorax [1], pleural effusion -mild- [4], moderate [9], severe [15], primary lung neoplasm [3], focal metastatic pulmonary neoplasia [7], metastatic tracheobronchial lymphadenopathy [2], metastatic rib neoplasm [1], and pulmonary bullae [3]. Thoracic radiography serves to verify the diagnosis, document the extent and location of the lesion, assist in detecting complication and also helps in classifying the lesions