Thorax Part 2

Question 1

what is the trachea?

Answer 1

a semi-rigid tube running from the larynx to the carina

Question 2

how does the size of the trachea compare to the height of the larynx?

Answer 2

normally just smaller than the height of the larynx

Question 3

what are some tracheal abnormalities?

Answer 3

collapsing trachea
hypoplastic trachea
other causes of tracheal narrowing: sub/mucosal edema or hemorrhage
tracheal foreign body
tracheal mass

Question 4

what is the pleural space?

Answer 4

a potential space between the visceral and parietal pleura

Question 5

are the pleura and pleural space usually visible on radiographs?

Answer 5

no

Question 6

what are some pleural space abnormalities?

Answer 6

pneumothorax
pleural effusion

Question 7

what is a pneumothorax?

Answer 7

gas in the pleural space

Question 8

what does a pneumothorax look like?

Answer 8

lungs retracted from thoracic wall
increased lucency of pleural sspace
increased opacity of collapse lung
heart separated from sternum

Question 9

why is there an increased lucency of the pleural space with a pneumothorax?

Answer 9

there is a lack of vessels extending to the periphery

Question 10

how can you differentiate a deep-chested dog from a pneumothorax?

Answer 10

heart may be separated from sternum
pulmonary vessels will be seen ventral to the heart

Question 11

how can you differentiate skin folds from a pneumothorax?

Answer 11

can be followed outside of the thoracic cavity

Question 12

what is a tension pneumothorax?

Answer 12

one-way valve causes pleural space pressure to rise above atmospheric pressure

Question 13

what does the diaphragm do in a tension pneumothorax?

Answer 13

caudally displaced and may be tented at the costal attachments

Question 14

what is pleural effusion?

Answer 14

fluid in the pleural space

Question 15

where will the fluid in pleural effusion collect in a DV view?

Answer 15

along midline: silhouettes with heart

Question 16

where will the fluid in pleural effusion collect on a VD view?

Answer 16

gutters: heart sticks out of effusion and is more visible

Question 16

what are some differentials that look like pleural effusion?

Answer 16

pleural thickening
fat: heart margin still visible
chondrodystrophic dog: looks like effusion on DV/VD view only

Question 17

how many lung lobes do canine and feline patients have?

Answer 17

6 lung lobes

Question 18

what lung lobes do feline and canine patients have?

Answer 18

right cranial, middle, caudal, accessory
left cranial and caudal

Question 19

what lung lobe do equine patients not have when compared to canine/feline patients?

Answer 19

right middle lung lobe

Question 20

what are the four lung patterns?

Answer 20

vascular
bronchial
interstitial
alveolar

Question 21

what happens in a vascular pattern?

Answer 21

too many vessels visible
vessels are too large (veins and/or arteries)

Question 22

on the DV/VD view, the caudal vessels should be equal in diameter to the ____________ as they cross it

Answer 22

9th rib

Question 23

on the lateral view, the cranial pulmonary ____________ are dorsal to the bronchus and the ____________ are ventral

Answer 23

arteries
veins

Question 24

on the DV/VD view, the caudal pulmonary arteries are ____________ to the bronchus and the veins are ____________

Answer 24

lateral
medial

Question 25

what can cause big veins (and normal arteries) on radiographs?

Answer 25

left sided congestive heart failure

Question 26

what can cause big arteries (and normal veins) on radiographs?

Answer 26

heartworm disease
pulmonary hypertension
pulmonary thromboendarterectomy (PTE)

Question 27

what can cause big arteries and veins on radiographs?

Answer 27

patent ductus arteriosus
fluid overload
hyperthyroidism
left sided congestive heartfailure with heartworm, PTE, or pulmonary hypertension (most common of these three)

Question 28

what happens in a bronchial pattern?

Answer 28

bronchi are more visible than normal

Question 29

how does a bronchial pattern manifest?

Answer 29

train tracks or donuts depending on whether the bronchi are seen in profile or end-on

Question 30

what does a bronchial pattern indicate?

Answer 30

airway disease of allergic, infectious, or parasitic origin

Question 31

what is the most common cause of a feline bronchial pattern?

Answer 31

feline asthma
does not always show up on radiographs

Question 32

what is an interstitial pattern recognized by?

Answer 32

increased lung opacity
decreased clarity of the pulmonary vascular margins

Question 33

what is an interstitial pattern due to?

Answer 33

something in interstitial space: fluid, cells, fibrous tissue

Question 34

what can cause a nodular interstitial pattern?

Answer 34

metastases

Question 35

when you see something that looks like nodules on a radiograph, what are some other differentials?

Answer 35

skin nodules
end-on vessels
pulmonary osseous metaplasia/pneumoliths

Question 36

where are end-on vessels mostly seen on a radiograph?

Answer 36

perihilar region
overly vessels of equal or greater diameter

Question 37

in order to catch our eye, solitary spherical soft tissue nodules must be __________

Answer 37

> 5mm

Question 38

how large are end-on vessels and pneumoliths in diameter?

Answer 38

2mm
still stand out: mineralized, more than 5mm “deep”