RADIOGRAPHS
LATERAL THORACIC CAVITY OF DOG
Place the radiographs so that the head /neck lie to your left
RADIOGRAPH NO. 1
NOTE THE BLACK RADIOLUCENT AIR FILLED OPACITY OF LUNG TISSUE CRANIAL
AND CAUDAL TO THE CARDIAC SILHOUETTE. THE CRANIAL LOBES OF THE LUNGS
ARE LOCATED CRANIAL TO AND SURROUNDING THE CARDIAC SILHOUETTE .
QUESTION : DO THE LUNG FIELDS EXTEND DORSALLY RIGHT UP AGAINST THE
VENTRAL ASPECT OF THE VERTEBRAL BODIES OR TO THE RIBS ?
ANSWER : THE LUNGS EXTEND TO THE RIBS ON EITHER SIDE OF THE VERTEBRAE .
ALTHOUGH NOT SEEN ON RADIOGRAPHS THERE IS A POTENTIAL SPACE (PLEURAL
CAVITY), ONLY CONTAINING A TINY AMOUNT OF WATERY SEROUS (PLEURAL)
FLUID,LOCATED BETWEEN THE VISCERAL (PULMONARY) PLEURA COVERING THE
LUNG AND THE COSTAL (PARIETAL) PLEURA LINING THE VERTEBRAE, RIBS AND
INTERCOSTAL MUSCLES.
A SUCTION FORCE (NEGATIVE PRESSURE) HOLDS THESE TWO PLEURAE TOGETHER
THROUGHOUT LIFE. IF AIR ENTERS THE PLEURAL CAVITY (PNEUMOTHORAX), IN
SUFFICIENT AMOUNTS, THE SUCTION FORCE WILL BE LOST AND THE LUNG WILL
COLLAPSE.
QUESTION : DO THE LUNG FIELDS EXTEND CAUDALLY RIGHT UP AGAINST THE
DIAPHRAGM ?
ANSWER: CAUDALLY THE LUNG FIELD EXTENDS RIGHT UP TO THE DIAPHRAGM AND
AROUND THE SIDES TO THE JUNCTION OF THE DIAPHRAGM WITH THE RIBS.
ALTHOUGH NOT OBSERVED ON RADIOGRAPHS THE POTENTIAL SPACE (PLEURAL
CAVITY) ALSO EXISTS BETWEEN THE VISCERAL (PULMONARY) PLEURA COVERING
THE LUNG AND THE DIAPHRAGMATIC (PARIETAL) PLEURA COVERING THE CRANIAL
SURFACE OF THE DIAPHRAGM. A SUCTION FORCE ALSO ATTACHES THESE TWO
PLEURAE THROUGHOUT LIFE.
QUESTION : ON THIS LATERAL VIEW OF THE THORACIC CAVITY GIVE THE
BOUNDARIES OF THE CRANIAL MEDIASTINAL SPACE.
ANSWER : SPACE BETWEEN THE THORACIC INLET AND HEART.
YOU MUST BE ABLE TO LIST THE STRUCTURES LOCATED IN THIS SPACE. BECAUSE
THEY ARE OF SOFT TISSUE OPACITY THEY CANNOT BE IDENTIFIED INDIVIDUALLY.
RADIOGRAPHICALLY, ONLY THE TRACHEA , BECAUSE OF ITS AIR OPACITY
CONTRASTING WITH THE SOFT TISSUE OPACITY CAN BE OBSERVED.
QUESTION: LOKING AT THIS RADIOGRAPH, DO YOU THINK THAT THE LUNG IS IN THE
CRANIAL MEDIASTINAL SPACE ?
ANSWER: NO –THE LUNGS ARE NOT IN THE CRANIAL MEDIASTINAL SPACE BUT
SUPERIMPOSED ON IT. BETTER CHECK YOUR ANATOMY IF YOU THINK OTHERWISE!
IDENTIFY THE FOLLOWING:
STRUCTURE “A”
STRUCTURE “A” IS THE TRACHEA IN CRANIAL MEDIASTINAL SPACE
QUESTION : HOW CAN YOU RECOGNISE THIS ORGAN ?
ANSWER: ITS AIR FILLED OPACITY STANDS OUT WELL AGAINST THE SOFT TISSUE
OPACITY OF THE STRUCTURES WITHIN THE CRANIAL MEDIASTINAL SPACE.
QUESTION: CAUDALLY IT SEEMS TO JUST DISAPPEAR !
TERMINATE (BIFURCATE)
HOW AND WHERE DOES IT
ANSWER: IT TERMINATES INTO 2 STEM ( PRIMARY) BRONCHII DORSAL TO BASE OF
HEART AT LEVEL OF 5TH THORACIC VERTEBRA. IT IS DIFFICULT TO FOLLOW THE
BRANCHING OF THE AIR FILLED BRONCHIAL TREE AGAINST THE AIR OPACITY OF THE
NORMAL LUNG TISSUE. THE TRACHEAL BIFURCATION LIES DIRECTLY DORSAL TO
THE CENTRE OF THE BASE OF THE HEART.
QUESTION : WHAT IS THE DOTTED CIRCLE SURROUNDING ?
ANSWER : IT SURROUNDS A STEM (PRIMARY) BRONCHUS SEEN IN CROSS SECTION
WITH ITS LUMEN SHOWING AN AIR FILLED OPACITY. IN FACT THE CIRCLE
SURROUNDS BOTH PRIMARY BRONCHII SUPERIMPOSED ON EACH OTHER.
NOTE THE ACUTE ANGLE MADE BY TRACHEA AND THORACIC
VERTEBRAE IN THE CRANIAL MEDIASTINAL SPACE.
QUESTION : ENLARGEMENT OF WHAT ORGAN WOULD ALTER THIS ANGLE BY
DISPLACING THE TRACHEA VENTRALLY
ANSWER: OESOPHAGUS , AS IT LIES DORSAL TO TRACHEA IN THE CRANIAL
MEDIASTINAL SPACE. THE OESOPHAGUS AND TRACHEA LIE SIDE BY SIDE AT THE
LEVEL OF THE THORACIC INLET. THE TRACHEA THEN PASSES VENTRAL TO THE
OESOPHAGUS PRODUCING AN ACUTE ANGLE WITH THE VERTEBRAL COLUMN. THIS
ANGLE IS OPEN CAUDALLY.
QUESTION : ENLARGEMENT OF WHAT ORGAN WOULD ALTER THIS ANGLE BY
DISPLACING THETERMINAL PORTION OF THE TRACHEA DORSALLY.
ANSWER: THE HEART, BECAUSE THE BASE OF THE HEART LIES VENTRAL TO THE
TRACHEA. ENLARGEMENT OF THE HEART INVOLVING THE RIGHT SIDE MEANS THAT
THE TRACHEAL BIFURCATION IS OFTEN IN A NORMAL POSITION. ENLARGEMENT OF
THE LEFT SIDE OF THE HEART ELEVATES THE TRACHEAL BIFURCATION.
ENLARGEMENT OF BOTH SIDES OF THE HEART ELEVATES THE TERMINAL PORTION OF
THE TRACHEA INCLUDING THE BIFURCATION.
THE LEFT STEM (PRIMARY) BRONCHUS LIES OVER THE LEFT ATRIUM. IF THE LEFT
ATRIUM BECOMES ENLARGED THE LEFT STEM (PRIMARY) BRONCHUS WILL BE
DISPLACED DORSALLY. IN OLD DOGS THERE IS A VERY COMMON ACQUIRED
CONDITION CALLED MITRAL VALVE INSUFFICIENCY WHERE THE LEFT
ATRIOVENTRICULAR VALVE DOES NOT CLOSE SUFFICIENTLY AND A BACKFLOW OF
BLOOD OCCURS IN THE LEFT ATRIUM. THIS CAUSES LEFT ATRIAL ENLARGEMENT OR
DILATION WHICH IN TURN WILL CAUSE THE LEFT STEM BRONCHUS TO BE DISPLACED
DORSALLY (ELEVATED).
STRUCTURE “B”
STRUCTURE “B” IS THE ARCH OF THE AORTA.
QUESTION: WHAT MAKES IT STAND OUT SO WELL ON THE RADIOGRAPH
ANSWER : IT HAS A TUBULAR SOFT TISSUE OPACITY WHICH CONTRASTS WELL
AGAINST THE AIR FILLED OPACITY OF THE LUNGS.
STRUCTURE “C”
STRUCTURE “C” IS THE HEART (CARDIAC SILHOUETTE)
QUESTION: .WHERE DOES IT LIE IN RELATION TO THE RIBS AND INTERCOSTAL
SPACES
ANSWER : IN THE MIDLINE AND FROM 3RD TO 6TH RIB .
IN DOGS ITS ORIENTATION VARIES WITH THE BREED , IN THE LARGER, DEEP CHESTED
BREEDS , SUCH AS THE SETTER OR IRISH WOLFHOUND , ITS MORE UPRIGHT
(VERTICAL)
QUESTION: ON THE DORSO-VENTRAL AXIS OF THE THORACIC CAVITY,HOW MUCH OF
THE THORACIC CAVITY IS USUALLY OCCUPIED BY THE HEART IN A MEDIUM SIZED
DOG AS SHOWN ON THIS RADIOGRAPH (A GREYHOUND)
ANSWER : TWO THIRDS OF THE DISTANCE BETWEEN STERNUM AND VERTEBRAL
COLUMN
QUESTION : DOES IT CONTACT STERNUM IN NORMAL RADIOGRAPHS
ANSWER : YES. IN SOME ABNORMAL CONDITIONS IT IS SEPARATED FROM THE
STERNUM AND WHEN THE DOG LIES ON ITS SIDE IT APPEARS THAT IT IS LIFTED
DORSALLY OFF THE STERNUM.
QUESTION : CAN YOU IDENTIFY RADIOGRAPHICALLY THE APPROXIMATE LOCATION
OF THE FOUR CHAMBERS OF THE HEART
ANSWER : YES ,A VERTICAL LINE BISECTING THE HEART,FROM THE POINT OF THE
TRACHEAL BIFURCATION (THE 12.0 O’ CLOCK POINT IF USING A “ CLOCK FACE”
ANALOGY)TO THE CARDIAC APEX WILL MEAN THAT THE RIGHT CHAMBERS OF THE
HEART LIE CRANIAL TO THE LINE AND THE LEFT CHAMBERS LIE CAUDALLY. IF YOU
BISECT THIS LINE ONE THIRD OF THE DISTANCE VENTRAL TO THE CARDIAC BASE THE
RIGHT ATRIUM LIES IN THE TOP LEFT POSITION (BETWEEN 9.O AND 12.O O’ CLOCK),
THE LEFT ATRIUM IN THE TOP RIGHTPOSITION (BETWEEN 12.0 AND 3.0 O CLOCK), THE
RIGHT VENTRICLE IN THE BOTTOM LEFT POSITION (BETWEEN 9.0 AND 5.0 O CLOCK)
AND THE LEFT VENTRICLE IN THE BOTTOM RIGHT POSITION (BETWEEN 3.0 AND 5.0 O
CLOCK)
TUBULAR STRUCTURE “D”--------WHAT IS IT ?
THIS BRANCHING TUBULAR SOFT TISSUE OPACITY RUNS FROM THE HILAR REGION OF
THE HEART( HILUS OF AN ORGAN IS THE REGION OF THE ORGAN WHERE BLOOD
VESSELS ENTER AND LEAVE).IT MUST BE A BLOOD VESSEL BECAUSE IT HAS SOFT
TISSUE OPACITY AND BRANCHES.
THEREFORE IT IS EITHER A BLOOD VESSEL WITHIN THE HEART (CORONARY VESSEL)
OR WITHIN THE LUNGS (PULMONARY VESSEL). BUT IT CANNOT BE A CORONARY
VESSEL AS THIS, HAVING ALMOST THE SAME OPACITYAS THE HEART WOULD NOT
STAND OUT OR CONTRAST SO WELL FROM THE HEART. HOWEVER IF IT WERE
LOCATED WITHIN AN AIR FILLED OPACITY, SUCH AS THE LUNG, THEN IT WOULD
SHOW UP WELL AGAINST THE AIR OPACITY.
IT IS PART OF THE PULMONARY ARTERIAL CIRCULATION WITHIN THE LUNGS
RADIOGRAPH NO. 2
LATERAL THORACIC CAVITY OF DOG
IDENTIFY THE FOLLOWING :
STRUCTURE “A”
STRUCTURE “A” IS THE CAUDAL VENA CAVA PASSING CAUDALLY THROUGH THE
DOME SHAPED DIAPHRAGM. THE DIAPHRAGM ITSELF CANNOT BE IDENTIFIED
RADIOGRAPHICALLY AS A SEPARATE ENTITY TO THE LIVER AS THEY ARE BOTH SOFT
TISSUE STRUCTURES. HOWEVER IF THERE IS FREE GAS IN THE ABDOMINAL CAVITY IT
WOULD OFFER AN AIR OPACITY CONTRASTING WITH THE SOFT TISSUE OPACITY OF
THE DIAPHRAGM.
QUESTION : ALTHOUGH THE DIAPHRAGM IS A DOME SHAPED STRUCTURE WITH THE
CONVEXITY OF THE DOME FACING THE THORACIC CAVITY HOW IS THE EXACT
POSITION OF THE DIAPHRAGM DETERMINED ?
ANSWER : THE POSITION OF THE DIAPHRAGM CAN BE APPROXIMATED AS CAUDALLY
IT IS CONTIGUOUS WITH THE LIVER AND CRANIALLY IT CONTRASTS VERY WELL
WITH THE AIR OPACITY OF THE LUNGS.
QUESTION : THE APPEARANCE OF THE DIAPHRAGM RADIOGRAPHICALLY VARIES ,
DEPENDING ON SEVERAL FACTORS; CAN YOU NAME SOME OF THESE FACTORS ?
ANSWER : POSTURE OF THE ANIMAL, PHASE OF THE RESPIRATORY CYCLE ,
CONFORMATION , OBESITY , AGE , FILLING OF THE STOMACH , AND POSITION AND
DIRECTION OF THE X-RAY BEAM.
DARK ELONGATED STRUCTURE “B”
THIS SLIGHTLY FUSIFORM STRUCTURE IS THE CRANIAL MARGIN OF THE RIGHT CRUS
(HEMIDIAPHRAGM) OF THE DIAPHRAGM AS THE CAUDAL VENA CAVA IS PASSING
THROUGH IT (THE CAUDAL VENA CAVA PASSES THROUGH THE CAVAL FORAMEN,
LOCATED ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE DIAPHRAGM). IN THIS RIGHT LATERAL
RECUMBENT VIEW THE RIGHT CRUS (WHICH IS LARGER THAN THE LEFT) IS
DISPLACED CRANIALLY BY THE ABDOMINAL CONTENTS WHICH HAVE GRAVITATED
TO THE RIGHT SIDE AND CONSEQUENTLY THE RIGHT CRUS LIES CRANIAL TO THE
LEFT ENABLING THE CAUDAL VENA CAVA TO BE SEEN PASSING THROUGH THE RIGHT
CRUS.
IN A LEFT LATERAL RECUMBENT VIEW (RADIOGRAPH NO.1) THE LEFT CRUS LIES
CRANIAL TO THE RIGHT AND THUS ITS MORE DIFFICULT TO OBSERVE THE CAUDAL
VENA CAVA---IT MUST PASS OVER THE SHADOW OF THE LEFT CRUS, TO REACH THE
RIGHT CRUS CAUDALLY.
NOTE THE AORTA PASSING CAUDALLY AND DORSALLY THROUGH THE AORTIC
HIATUS OF THE DIAPHRAGM, WHICH IS A SPACE BETWEEN THE TWO CRURAE
(INTERCRURAL CLEFT)
QUESTION : CAN YOU NAME ANY OTHER STRUCTURES THAT PASS THROUGH THE
AORTIC HIATUS WITH THE AORTA ?
ANSWER : AZYGOS AND HEMIAZYGOS VEINS AS WELL AS THE THORACIC DUCT.
THESE STRUCTURES ARE NOT IDENTIFIABLE ON THORACIC RADIOGRAPHS.
NOTE THE ACUTE ANGLE MADE BY THE CRUS OF THE DIAPHRAGM WITH THE
VERTEBRAL COLUMN. THIS ANGLE IS CALLED THE DORSAL PHRENICOLUMBAR
RECESS. REMEMBER THE DIAPHRAGMATIC CRURAE ATTACH , BY STRONG TENDONS,
TO THE BODIES OF THE THIRD AND FOURTH LUMBAR VERTEBRAE THROUGH THE
MEDIUM OF THE VENTRAL LONGITUDINAL LIGAMENT.
QUESTION : WHAT IS THE THIRD OPENING IN THE DIAPHRAGM AND WHAT
STRUCTURES PASS THROUGH IT ?
ANSWER : OESOPHAGEAL HIATUS , THE MOST CENTRALLY LOCATED OPENING
THROUGH THE DIAPHRAGM, LOCATED IN THE MUSCULAR PART OF THE RIGHT CRUS
DORSAL TO THE CAVAL FORAMEN. THE OESOPHAGUS , THE DORSAL AND VENTRAL
VAGAL NERVE TRUNKS AND OESOPHAGEAL VESSELS PASS THROUGH THIS HIATUS.
ONLY THE OESOPHAGUS IS OCCASIONALLY VISIBLE ON THORACIC RADIOGRAPHS.
QUESTION : IN NORMAL EXPIRATION , HOW FAR CRANIALLY WOULD THE
DIAPHRAGMATIC DOME EXTEND ?
ANSWER : A VERTICAL PLANE THROUGH THE VENTRAL ASPECT OF THE 6 TH
INTERCOSTAL SPACE. ON A LATERAL RADIOGRAPH AT INSPIRATION, THE POSITION
OF THE DIAPHRAGM MOVES IN A CAUDAL DIRECTIONAND MAY VARY BY ABOUT THE
LENGTH OF TWO THORACIC VERTEBRAL BODIES FROM ITS POSITION AT EXPIRATION.
RADIOGRAPH NO. 3
LATERAL THORACIC CAVITY OF DOG
QUESTION : IDENTIFY STRUCTURE”A” AND STRUCTURE “B”
ANSWER : STRUCTURE “A” , CONTAINING A POSITIVE CONTRAST MEDIUM (BARIUM
SULPHATE), IS THE OESOPHAGUS WHICH IN THE CRANIAL MEDIASTINAL SPACE LIES
DORSAL TO THE TRACHEA (STRUCTURE “B”) WHICH HAS AN AIR OPACITY.
QUESTION :WHY IS THEIR TOPOGRAPHICAL RELATIONSHIP OF IMPORTANCE ?
ANSWER : IF THE OESOPHAGUS BECOMES DILATED IT COULD PUSH THE TRACHEA
VENTRALLY.
THE OESOPHAGUS GENERALLY REQUIRES THE ADDITION OF A POSITIVE ( RADIOOPAQUE) CONTRAST MEDIUM SUCH AS BARIUM SULPHATE TO BE OBSERVED ,
OTHERWISE. THIS THIN, USUALLY COLLAPSED, TUBE WILL NOT BE SEEN. OF COURSE
IF AIR OR SOME RADIOPAQUE FOREIGN BODY IS SWALLOWED THE OESOPHAGUS
WILL BE OUTLINED.
NOTE THE LONGITUDINAL STRIATIONS WHICH IS A CHARACTERISTICFEATURE OF THE
DOG’S OESOPHAGUS AND REFLECTS THE STRIATED MUSCLE IN ITS WALL.
QUESTION : WHERE IS THE OESOPHAGUS LIKELY TO BE BLOCKED BY A FOREIGN
BODY ?
ANSWER:
AS IT PASSES THROUGH THE THORACIC INLET
AS IT PASSES OVER THE BASE OF THE HEART
JUST IN FRONT OF THE DIAPHRAGM AS IT PASSES THROUGH DIAPHRAGM
CAUDAL TO THE HEART (IN CAUDAL MEDIASTINAL SPACE) THE OESOPHAGUS LIES
ROUGHLY HALFWAY BETWEEN THE AORTA DORSALLY AND CAUDAL VENA CAVA
VENTRALLY
RADIOGRAPH NO. 4
LATERAL THORACIC CAVITY OF DOG-----A POSITIVE CONTRAST STUDY USING AN
IODINE BASE MEDIUM INJECTED INTO THE JUGULAR VEIN.
QUESTION : IDENTIFY STRUCTURES “A” ,”B”, ”C” , “D”, “E” AND “F”
ANSWER:
“A” IS CRANIAL VENA CAVA
“B” IS PULMONARY OUTFLOW TRACT SUPERIMPOSED ON THE
RIGHT ATRIUM.
“C” IS PULMONARY TRUNK
“D” ---BRANCHES OF PULMONARY ARTERIES WITHIN LUNGS
“E”-----RIGHT AURICULAR APPENDAGE
“F”----RIGHT VENTRICLE
QUESTIONS : HOW IS “A” FORMED AND HOW DOES “B” TERMINATE ?
ANSWER : THE CRANIAL VENA CAVA, WHICH IS NOT SEEN IN NON-CONTRAST (PLAIN)
STUDIES, IS FORMED BY THE UNION OF THE RIGHT AND LEFT BRACHIOCEPHALIC
VEINS AT THE THORACIC INLET. IT PASSES THROUGH THE CRANIAL MEDIASTINAL
SPACE TO DRAIN ITS DEOXYGENATED BLOOD (FROM THE HEAD, NECK AND FRONT
LIMBS) INTO THE RIGHT ATRIUM.
THE RIGHT ATRIUM IS NOT VISIBLE ON THIS RADIOGRAPH.
THE PULMONARY ARTERIES (RIGHT AND LEFT – FROM THE TERMINATION OF THE
PULMONARY TRUNK) CONTAIN DEOXYGENATED BLOOD.
OXYGENATION WILL OCCUR BETWEEN THE PULMONARY CAPILLARIES AND THE
LUNG ALVEOLI.
RADIOGRAPH NO. 5
VENTRODORSAL RADIOGRAPH OF CANINE THORACIC CAVITY
NOTE THE RIBS
NOTE THE LUNG FIELDS EXTENDING RIGHT UP AGAINST THE RIBCAGE
NOTE THE HEART, WITH ITS BLUNT APEX (NO.5 ON RADIOGRAPH )
QUESTIONS :
Q.1. WHAT CHAMBER OF THE HEART MAKES UP ITS BLUNT APEX ?
ANSWER: LEFT VENTRICLE
Q.2 DOES THE BLUNT APEX OF THE CARDIAC SILHOUETTE LIE TO RIGHT OR LEFT
SIDE OF THE THORACIC VERTEBRAE / MIDLINE?
ANSWER : THE BLUNT APEX LIES TO THE LEFT OF THE MIDLINE
Q.3 IDENTIFY “A”
ANSWER : GASTRIC AIR (AIR DENSITY) IN FUNDUS REGION OF STOMACH
Q.4 IS THE FUNDUS REGION OF THE STOMACH ON THE RIGHT OR LEFT SIDE ?
ANSWER : THE FUNDUS OF THE STOMACH IS THE LARGE BLIND POUCH THAT LIES
DORSAL AND TO THE LEFT OF THE MIDLINE
THE METAL MARKERS WILL OF COURSE INDICATE THE “R” (RIGHT) OR “L” (LEFT) SIDE
NOTE : WITH VENTRODORSAL RADIOGRAPHS OF THE THORACIC CAVITY ,ARRANGE
THE RADIOGRAPH SO THAT THE RIGHT SIDE IS ON YOUR LEFT
Q.5 IN THIS VENTRODORSAL RADIOGRAPH OF THE CANINE THORACIC CAVITY WHAT
WIDTH OF THE CAVITY IS OCCUPIED BY THE CARDIAC SILHOUETTE ?
ANSWER :DEPENDING ON THE CONFORMATION OF THE DOG , THE CARDIAC
SILHOUETTE MAY OCCUPY A HALF (DEEP-CHESTED) TO TWO THIRDS (SHALLOWCHESTED) THE WIDTH OF THE THORACIC CAVITY.
THE MAXIMUM WIDTH OF THE HEART IS AT ABOUT THE LEVEL OF THE 4 TH RIB.
Q.6 HOW FAR DOES THE CARDIAC OUTLINE EXTEND IN A CRANIOCAUDAL DIRECTION
ANSWER :IT EXTENDS FROM ABOUT THE 3RD TO THE 8TH RIB.
NOTE : APPROXIMATELY EQUAL AMOUNTS OF LUNG FIELDS SHOULD BE VISIBLE ON
EITHER SIDE OF THE HEART.
WITH THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS A “CLOCK FACE” ANALOGY IS USED TO DESCRIBE
POSITIONS ALONG THE CARDIAC BORDERS ON THIS VENTRODORSAL VIEW OF THE
CANINE THORACIC CAVITY. THE 12 O’CLOCK POSITION IS OVER THE AORTIC ARCH.
Q. 7 WHAT CHAMBER OF THE HEART LIES ROUGHLY BETWEEN 9 AND 11 O’CLOCK
ANSWER : RIGHT ATRIUM
Q. 8 WHAT CHAMBER OF THE HEART LIES ROUGHLY BETWEEN 9 AND 5 O’CLOCK ?
ANSWER : RIGHT VENTRICLE .
NOTE : THE RIGHT CARDIAC BORDER IS CURVED
Q. 9 WHAT CHAMBER OF THE HEART LIES ROUGHLY BETWEEN 12 AND 1 O’CLOCK ?
ANSWER : THE AORTA
Q. 10 WHAT SEGMENT OF THE HEART LIES ROUGHLY BETWEEN 1 AND 2 O’CLOCK ?
ANSWER : THE PULMONARY ARTERY SEGMENT, WHICH WILL APPEAR MORE
PROMINENT AT VENTRICULAR SYSTOLE.
Q. 11 WHAT CHAMBER OF THE HEART LIES ROUGHLY BETWEEN 3 AND 5 O’CLOCK ?
ANSWER : THE LEFT VENTRICLE
NOTE :CAUDAL TO THE PULMONARY ARTERY SEGMENT, THE LEFT VENTRICLE
OVERLIES THE LEFT AURICLE (BETWEEN 2 O’CLOCK AND 3 O’CLOCK).
UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES THE LEFT AURICLE DOES NOT CONTRIBUTE TO
THE LEFT CARDIAC EDGE.
RADIOGRAPH NO. 6
LATERAL THORACIC AND ABDOMINAL CAVITIES OF DOG
QUESTIONS :
Q.1 : WHAT AGE GROUP IS THIS DOG -------YOUNG OR OLD ?
ANSWER : YOUNG -------BECAUSE OF THE PRESENCE OF GROWTH PLATES, ESPECIALY
ON THE HUMERUS.
Q.2 THE SPINOUS PROCESS OF WHICH THORACIC VERTEBRA IS NEARLY
PERPENDICULAR TO THE LONG AXIS OF THE VERTEBRA ?
ANSWER : THE 11TH THORACIC VERTEBRA
NOTE : ALL SPINES CAUDAL TO THE 11TH POINT CRANIALLY
ALL SPINES CRANIAL TO THE 11TH POINT CAUDALLY
Q.3. DO YOU KNOW THE NAME GIVEN TO THE 11TH THORACIC VERTEBRA OF THE DOG
ANSWER : THE ANTICLINAL VERTEBRA ----AS IT IS AT THIS VERTEBRA THAT THE
DORSAL SPINOUS PROCESSES CHANGE ANGULATION FROM A CAUDAL TO A CRANIAL
DIRECTION.
Q.4 CAN YOU IDENTIFY 5 ABNORMALITIES ON THIS RADIOGRAPH
ANSWER : NOTE AIR FILLED COILS OF INTESTINE IN CRANIAL THORACIC AREA, POOR
OUTLINE OF HEART AND DIAPHRAGM, DISPLACED GASTRIC AXIS, AIR IN CERVICAL
OESOPHAGUS AND ELEVATED TRACHEA.
Q.5 WHAT IS THE CLINICAL CONDITION CAUSING THESE ABNORMALITIES ?
ANSWER : RUPTURE OF THE DIAPHRAGM
RADIOGRAPHS NO. 7
RADIOGRAPH “7A” IS A LATERAL VIEW OF THE CANINE THORACIC CAVITY
RADIOGRAPH “7B” IS A LATERAL VIEW OF THE CANINE THORACIC CAVITY WITH A
BARIUM CONTRAST MEDIUM INTRODUCED
RADIOGRAPH “7C” IS A LATERAL VIEW OF THE CANINE THORACIC CAVITY
RADIOGRAPH “7D” IS A LATERAL VIEW OF THE CANINE THORACIC CAVITY WITH A
BARIUM CONTRAST MEDIUM INTRODUCED.
QUESTIONS:
Q.1 ON RADIOGRAPH “7A”
WHAT ABNORMALITY IS PRESENT ON THIS RADIOGRAPH ?
ANSWER : THE OESOPHAGUS IS DISTENDED WITH FOOD MATERIAL IN ITS CERVICAL
AND CRANIAL THORACIC REGIONS. THE BULGE CRANIAL TO THE HEART BASE IS THE
DISTENDED POUCH OF THE OESOPHAGUS.
Q. 2 WHAT IS THE NAME FOR A DISTENDED OESOPHAGUS ?
ANSWER : MEGOESOPHAGUS
Q.1 CAN YOU IDENTIFY 3 ABNORMALITIES PRESENT ON THIS RADIOGRAPH OF THE
CANINE THORACIC CAVITY?
ANSWER: OESOPHAGUS LABELLED “C”, CONTAINING A BARIUM CONTRAST MEDIUM,
IS DILATED
DILATED OESOPHAGUS HAS LOST ITS NORMAL STRIATIONS
TRACHEA, LABELLED “B”, CONTAINING A FAINT BARIUM OPACITY, HAS
DEVIATED VENTRALLY.
INHALATION OF BARIUM INTO THE BRONCHUS LABELLED “A” OF THE
RIGHT MIDDLE LUNG LOBE.
Q.2 CAN YOU NAME THE CLINICAL CONDITION INVOLVED ?
ANSWER : MEGOESOPHAGUS (DILATED OESOPHAGUS) .
REMEMBER THAT THE OESOPHAGUS LIES DORSAL TO TRACHEA IN THE CRANIAL
MEDIASTINAL SPACE, SO A VENTRAL DEVIATION OF THE TRACHEA WOULD BE
EXPECTEDWHEN THERE IS DILATION OF THE OESOPHAGUS.
COULD YOU SUGGEST POSSIBLE CAUSES OF MEGOESOPHAGUS ?
COULD YOU SUGGEST POSSIBLE CLINICAL SIGNS OF MEGOESOPHAGUS ?
RADIOGRAPHS NO. 8
RADIOGRAPH “8A” IS A VENTRODORSAL VIEW OF CANINE THORACIC CAVITY
RADIOGRAPH “8B” IS A LATERAL VIEW OF CANINE THORACIC CAVITY
BOTH RADIOGRAPHS ARE FROM THE SAME DOG
QUESTIONS :
Q. 1 ON RADIOGRAPH “8A”
CAN YOU SEE 3 ABNORMALITIES ON THIS RADIOGRAPH ?
ANSWER :
FLUID OPACITY IS SEEN SEPARATING THE LUNG FIELDS FROM THE RIBCAGE .
THE LUNG FIELDS DO NOT EXTEND RIGHT UP AGAINST THE RIBCAGE.
THERE IS A LACK OF DEFINITION WITHIN THE THORACIC CAVITY
THE CARDIAC AND DIAPHRAGMATIC OUTLINES ARE NOT EVIDENT.
Q. 2 ON RADIOGRAPH “8A”
WHAT COULD CAUSE THESE ABNORMALITIES ?
ANSWER :THE CAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM IS EXCESSIVE PLEURAL FLUID IN THE
PLEURAL CAVITIES.
NOTE : THE SCALLOPED ROUNDED EDGES OF THE PARTIALLY COLLAPSED AND
RETRACTED LUNG LOBES . THIS APPEARANCE IS OUT OF LINE WITH THE NORMAL
VENTRODORSAL RADIOGRAPHIC VIEW OF THE LUNGS.
Q. 1 ON RADIOGRAPH “8B”
IS THE TRACHEA NORMAL ,DEPRESSED OR ELEVATED ?
ANSWER : THE TRACHEA IS ELEVATED
Q. 2 ON RADIOGRAPH “8B”
WHAT IS CAUSING THE TRACHEAL ELEVATION ?
ANSWER : ELEVATION OF THE TRACHEA IS BECAUSE THE LUNGS ARE FLOATING IN
THE EXCESSIVE PLEURAL THE FLUID WHEN THE DOG LIES ON ITS SIDE
RADIOGRAPHS NO. 9
RADIOGRAPH “9A” IS A LATERAL VIEW OF THE CANINE THORACIC CAVITY
RADIOGRAPH “9B” IS A VENTRODORSAL VIEW OF THE CANINE THORACIC CAVITY
REMEMBER:
VENTRODORSAL RADIOGRAPHS ARE VIEWED WITH THE DOG’S LEFT SIDE ON YOUR
RIGHT.
BOTH RADIOGRAPHS ARE FROM THE SAME DOG
QUESTIONS :
Q. 1 CAN YOU SEE ANY ABNORMALITIES PRESENT ON THESE RADIOGRAPHS ?
ANSWER : THERE ARE MULTIPLE NODULAR OPACITIES SEEN THROUGHOUT THE
LUNG FIELDS.
Q. 2 WHAT COULD CAUSE SUCH NODULAR OPACITIES ?
THESE NODULAR OPACITIES ARE A RESULT OF SECONDARY NEOPLASTIC DISEASE.
RADIOGRAPHS NO. 10
RADIOGRAPH “10A” IS A LATERAL VIEW OF THE CANINE THORACIC CAVITY
RADIOGRAPH “10B” IS A VENTRODORSAL VIEW OF THE CANINE THORACIC CAVITY
BOTH RADIOGRAPHS ARE FROM THE SAME BITCH
QUESTIONS :
Q. 1 CAN YOU IDENTIFY ANY ABNORMALITY PRESENT ON THESE RADIOGRAPHS .
ANSWER : THERE IS A LARGE ,PARTIALLY CALCIFIED SOFT TISSUE MASS OFF THE
CAUDOVENTRAL THORAX.
THE MASS HAS SEVERAL STIPPLED FOCAL CALCIFIED OPACITIES WITHIN IT.
Q. 2 WHAT COULD THIS MASS BE ?
ANSWER : THIS MASS IS A MAMMARY TUMOUR
REMEMBER : THE BITCH HAS MOST COMMONLY 10 MAMMARY GLANDS ----A PAIR
OF CRANIAL THORACIC, A PAIR OF CAUDAL THORACIC , A PAIR OF CRANIAL
ABDOMINAL , A PAIR OF CAUDAL ABDOMINAL AND A PAIR OF INGUINAL.
Q.3 ON RADIOGRAPH “10B” –VENTRODORSAL VIEW
WHY ARE THE EDGES OF THE MASS ON THIS VENTRODORSAL VIEW SO WELL DEFINED
ANSWER : BECAUSE OF THE CONTRAST OF THE SURROUNDING ROOM AIR DENSITY
Q.4 ON RADIOGRAPH “10B” –VENTRODORSAL VIEW
IF THIS MASS WAS WITHIN THE ABDOMEN IN THE SAME LOCATION WOULD IT BE AS
EASY TO SEE ?
ANSWER : NO –IT WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE AS IT WOULD BE IN CONTRAST
WITH ANOTHER SOFT TISSUE OPACITY (NOT AIR DENSITY), MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO
SEPARATE THESE TWO SOFT TISSUE OPACITIES .
Q.5 ON RADIOGRAPH “10B” –VENTRODORSAL VIEW
WHAT IS THE SOFT TISSUE OPACITY THAT THE NEOPLASTIC MASS WOULD IT BE IN
CONTRAST WITH ?
ANSWER: IT WOULD BE IN CONTRAST WITH THE LIVER AND THEREFORE VERY
DIFFICULT TO SEE.
RADIOGRAPH NO. 11
QUESTION : CAN YOU IDENTIFY ANY ABNORMALITIES PRESENT ON THIS LATERAL
RADIOGRAPH OF THE CANINE THORACIC CAVITY
ANSWER RADIODENSE MATERIAL IN CRANIAL MEDIASTINAL SPACE .
BECAUSE OF TRACHEA HESTER –IS THIS ANOTHER CASE
OF MEGESOPHAGUS AND THE RADIODENSE MATERIAL IS
WITHIN THE ESOPHAGUS ?? IF SO I WILL INCLUDE IT
WITH THE MEGESOPHAGUS FILE .
RADIOGRAPH NO. 12
QUESTION : CAN YOU IDENTIFY ANY ABNORMALITIES PRESENT ON THIS LATERAL
RADIOGRAPH OF THE CANINE THORACIC CAVITY.
ANSWER : A RADIODENSE FOREIGN BODY IN CAUDAL MEDIASTINAL SPACE
RADIOGRAPH NO. 13
QUESTIONS : CAN YOU IDENTIFY ANY ABNORMALITIES PRESENT ON THIS
VENTRODORSAL RADIOGRAPH OF THE CANINE THORACIC CAVITY. CAN YOU OFFER
ANY CAUSE FOR SUCH AN ABNORMALITY ?
ANSWER : THE CARDIAC SILHOUETTE IS ENLARGED. THE REASON FOR THIS IS -----NEED YOUR HELP HERE HESTER !