Thoracic imaging

Question 1

what is the best setting to prevent respiratory movement on the xray

Answer 1

high kVp

low mA

Question 2

how should you interpret an xray - 3 stages

Answer 2

1. assess overall - quality, phase of resp and BCS
2. systematic approach - ribs, mediastinal dz, tracheal dz
3. norm/abn

Question 3

what effect might obesity have upon appearance of xray?

Answer 3

wide mediastinum

inc lung obacity

Question 4

what is the sign of the psoas muscle in cats

Answer 4

cuts off the cd-d edge of the thoracic cavity

Question 5

how do you descr an abnormality

Answer 5

inc or dec opacity (inc fluid/cell or less air?)

where is it (compartment)

Question 6

desc the signs of a pleural effusion

Answer 6

border effacement of the heart and lung and diaphragm

retraction of lung margins

Question 7

what does pneumothorax look like

Answer 7

air (lucent) in pleural space
retraction of lung margins
cardiac sill lifted from sternum

Question 8

mediastinal masses are common (in rabbits espesh fyi), what structures are in the mediastinum

Answer 8

trachea
oesoph
heart
g vessels
LN sternal

Question 9

how can you ID mediastinal masses

Answer 9

displacement of other structures

widen of DV

Question 10

what are the 4 main desc of lung patterns on xray

Answer 10

bronchial (obv walls+)
alveolar
interstitial
vascular

Question 11

what are some reason for decreased lung opacity give examples of both diffuse and focal causes

Answer 11

diffuse - pneumothorax, s/c emphysema, hyperinflation

focal - thromboembolism, emphysema, lung lesion which has ruptured

Question 12

name some charactertic lesions for cr-v, generalised and cd-d regions of the lobes

Answer 12

cr-v = aspiration pneumonia
generalised = fribrosis, broncitis, atelectasis
cd-d = oedema

Question 13

name some causes of bronchial lung pattern

Answer 13

calcification
chronic bronchitis
peribronchial cuffing - oedema
bronchiectasis

Question 14

name some causes of alveolar lung pattern

Answer 14

diffue = pneumonia, oedema. haem++
focal = atalectasis, lobe torsion (or as above)

Question 15

what might you see when there is an alveolar pattern

Answer 15

air bronchograms

Question 16

mostly an interstitial pattern is artefact but what can cause a genuine one

Answer 16

• neoplasia
• nodular type or diffuse
• misrecognised pulmonary oesteomata (irreg mineralisation)

Question 17

what is the vertebral heart score

Answer 17

way of assess size from radiograph

Question 18

what is a radiography sign of LHS Cfailure

Answer 18

cd border of heart becomes squared off.

dislacement of mainetm bronchi

Question 19

what is a radiographic sign of RHS c failure

Answer 19

rounded on RHS (reverse ‘D’)
inc sternal contact
more of the heart of the RHS of the body than norm

Question 20

which pulmonay vessels can be assessed in C+D

Answer 20

cranial and caudal lobar vessels (usually same width as ribs nearest them)

Question 21

desc the appearance on xray of a dog with mitral vale dz

Answer 21

• small breeds
• –> LA enlargement
• puml oedema

Question 22

desc the appearance of DCM on xray

Answer 22

• larger breeds
• cardiomegaly++
• LA and RHS enlargmen

Question 23

what is reverse PDA

Answer 23

pulmonary hypertension which leads to RHS enlargement (cor pulmonale) and POS R–>L flow if v bad

Question 24

what is the most common vascular ring anomalie

Answer 24

persistent RAA

tracheal displacment, megaoesoph

Question 25

how can micro-cardia occur

Answer 25

hypovolaemia and – hypovascular lung