Small animal thoracic and abdominal views

Question 1

what are abdominal views used for?

Answer 1

to evaluate soft tissues/organ systems
GI and urogenital systems are primary focus
gas and fluid within structures affect contrast (use high kVp)

Question 2

what do you do if you can’t fit the abdominal/thoracic view into one radiograph for larger dogs?

Answer 2

take 2 separate radiographs: 1 cranial and 1 caudal

Question 3

which views are usually used for abdominal radiographs?

Answer 3

lateral and ventrodorsal

Question 4

lateral abdominal view

Answer 4

usually right lateral taken but both should be obtained
rib heads and coxofemoral joints will be superimposed and intervertebral foramina will be the same size

Question 5

ventrodorsal abdominal view

Answer 5

positioning: symmetry of wings of ilium and ribs, central alignment of spinous processes within vertebrae
always use V-trough

Question 6

dorsoventral abdominal view

Answer 6

only used when patient would be compromised in VD (pulmonary edema, respiratory distress, vomiting)
positioning: body evenly positioned, straight line connecting the point of the nose with the caudal midline, sternum and spine superimposed
expose on expiration

Question 7

less common abdominal views

Answer 7

VD projection with horizontal beam (lateral decubitus)

Question 8

VD projection with horizontal beam

Answer 8

used when there is suspicion of fluid or free gas within the abdominal cavity
wait at least 5 minutes once patient is in position before imaging to allow gas to collect dorsally
image receptor placed vertically directly behind the patient (doesn’t work with digital radiography)

Question 9

modified lateral projection

Answer 9

used when entire length of urinary tract is needed
hindlimbs would obscure urethra in lateral

Question 10

why do we need to take abdominal radiographs?

Answer 10

foreign bodies/objects, gastric dilation and volvulus (GDV) or bloat, vomiting and diarrhea, HBC/trauma, neoplasia, bladder stones, pregnancy

Question 11

gastric dilation and volvulus

Answer 11

dog’s stomach bloats with gas, food, or fluid and the stomach twists

Question 12

thoracic views

Answer 12

used to evaluate the heart and lungs
taken lateral, ventrodorsal or dorsoventral
exposed at peak inspiration (maximum contrast obtained when lungs are filled with air
use highest mA and shortest time possible to decrease blur

Question 13

lateral thoracic view

Answer 13

both right and left view
positioning: superimposition of costochondral junctions of ribs
when viewing lateral images both images are viewed with patient’s head to the left of the screen and patient’s tail to the right
when lesions are suspected in 1 lung patient should be positioned with the unaffected lung down on the table

Question 14

ventrodorsal thoracic view

Answer 14

provides best visualization of lungs
best to evaluate pneumothorax (if suspected expose during expiratory pause)
use for respiratory distress patients

Question 15

less common thoracic views

Answer 15

ventrodorsal projection with horizontal beam (lateral decubitus) and standing lateral projection with horizontal beam

Question 16

ventrodorsal projection with horizontal beam (lateral decubitus)

Answer 16

used when the presence of air or fluid in the thorax is suspected
wait 5 minutes with patient in position to allow gas to collect dorsally
image receptor is placed vertically behind patient

Question 17

standing lateral projection with horizontal beam

Answer 17

used for the same reason as VD projection

Question 18

why do we take thoracic radiographs?

Answer 18

to evaluate the heart, lungs, diaphragm, trachea/bronchi, and esophagus

Question 19

why do we need to evaluate the heart?

Answer 19

for generalized cardiomegaly, specific chamber enlargement, cardiac/pulmonary vasculature, and cardiac neoplasia

Question 20

why do we need to evaluate the lungs?

Answer 20

for coughing, congestive heart failure, disease, trauma, and fluid or gas

Question 21

why do we need to evaluate the trachea/bronchi?

Answer 21

for collapse or foreign bodies

Question 22

why do we need to evaluate the esophagus?

Answer 22

for foreign bodies, see if it is dilated or constricted, look for tumors, and inflammation