Radiographic Interpretation of the Respiratory Tract

Question 1

when an animal is in lateral recumbency, which lung collapses?

Answer 1

down lung

Question 2

what do we evaluate in radiographs of the thorax?

Answer 2

extrathoracic structures/thoracic wall
mediastinum
diaphragm
pleural space
lungs, including pulmonary vasculature
cardiac silhouette

Question 3

how can you distinguish between a thoracic wall mass and a lung mass?

Answer 3

will deform thoracic wall
may cause rib destruction
extrapleural sign: obtuse angle or curve where mass meets wall (pulmonary will form acute)

Question 4

where does the mediastinum extend?

Answer 4

thoracic inlet to diaphragm
spine to sternum

Question 5

what are some mediastinal abnormalities?

Answer 5

cranial mediastinal mass
mediastinal shift

Question 6

what can cause mediastinal shift?

Answer 6

collapse of lung (important)
increased volume of lung/hemithorax
mass

Question 7

how can you distinguish a mediastinal mass from a lung mass?

Answer 7

on midline, wider than spine
trachea may be deviated
may compress trachea or lungs

Question 8

how can you distinguish an esophageal mass?

Answer 8

on midline, dorsal in area of trachea
contrast study- esophagogram

Question 9

what are some tracheal abnormalities?

Answer 9

collapsing trachea
hypoplastic trachea
other causes of tracheal narrowing
tracheal foreign body
tracheal mass

Question 10

extrathoracic tracheal collapse happens on _________________

Answer 10

inspiration

Question 11

intrathoracic tracheal collapse happens on ________________

Answer 11

expiration

Question 12

how do you recognize a pneumothorax on a radiograph?

Answer 12

lungs retracted
increased lucency un pleural space
increased opacity of collapsed lung
heart separated from sternum

Question 13

how do you recognize pleural effusion on a radiograph?

Answer 13

widened interlobar fissures
lungs retracted
increased opacity of pleural space
poor visualization of cardiac silhouette and diaphragm
scalloped ventral lung margins

Question 14

what are the abnormal lung patterns?

Answer 14

vascular
bronchial
interstitial
alveolar

Question 15

what happens in a vascular pattern?

Answer 15

too many vessels
vessels too large

Question 16

how large should the caudal vessels be on a VD/DV?

Answer 16

equal in diameter to the 9th rib as they cross it

Question 17

what do big veins and normal-sized arteries indicate?

Answer 17

left-sided congestive heart failure

Question 18

what do large arteries and normal veins indicate?

Answer 18

heartworm disease

Question 19

what do big arteries and veins indicate?

Answer 19

fluid overload
left to right shunting: PDA

Question 20

what does a bronchial pattern look like?

Answer 20

train tracks or donuts
can see bronchi walls

Question 21

what does a bronchial pattern indicate?

Answer 21

airway disease of allergic, infectious or parasitic origin

Question 22

what is bronchiectasis?

Answer 22

dilation of an airway
irreversible
cylindrical or saccular

Question 23

what does an interstitial pattern indicate?

Answer 23

fluid, cells, or fibrous tissue in interstitial space

Question 24

what are the options for a structured interstitial pattern?

Answer 24

micronodules: 1-2mm
nodules: <3cm
masses: >3cm
cavitated

Question 25

what causes an alveolar pattern?

Answer 25

lung filled with crud
collapsed: atelectasis
decreased volume of air in lungs

Question 26

what is an alveolar pattern?

Answer 26

increased pulmonary opacity to the point where vessels cannot be distinguished

Question 27

what can cause atelectasis?

Answer 27

recumbency
bronchial obstruction

Question 28

how do you distinguish between atelectasis and consolidation?

Answer 28

consolidated lung will be normal size
atelectic lung will be smaller, mediastinal shift

Question 29

which lung lobes will pneumonia go to?

Answer 29

ventral/cranioventral
right middle

Question 30

where do you see cardiogenic edema?

Answer 30

starts perihilar and spreads everywhere
cats can have anywhere

Question 31

where do you see noncardiogenic edema?

Answer 31

caudodorsal lung fields

Question 32

where do you see edema in the lungs?

Answer 32

anywhere

Question 33

how do you distinguish an interstitial pattern from an alveolar pattern?

Answer 33

can still see vessels with interstitial pattern