Case 11 — Thoracic Radiographs

DV

DV thoracic radiograph showing an enlarged cardiac silhouette. The diaphragm is displaced cranially by ascites, making it impossible to evaluate the caudodorsal lung fields for pulmonary edema.
DV thoracic radiograph.

Right Lateral

Right lateral thoracic radiograph showing an enlarged cardiac silhouette. The diaphragm is displaced forward by ascites, obscuring the caudodorsal lung fields.
Right lateral thoracic radiograph.

One of the primary things one would like to evaluate on this dog is its lung fields for the presence of pulmonary edema. Unfortunately, this dog’s diaphragm is displaced forward by its ascites, making it impossible to tell if there are infiltrates in the caudodorsal lung fields. If there is pulmonary edema, it would most likely be mild to moderate. At this stage, pulmonary edema is usually centrally located on the DV radiograph and consequently mild to moderate edema usually cannot be identified in this view.

Quiz

1. What cardiac chamber is easily seen to be severely enlarged?

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