Case Study

RAD – Left sided cardiomegaly with likely chronic mitral valve regurgitation in a 14 year old FS Chihuahua

This 14 year old FS Chihuahua presented with a grade 2-3/6 systolic heart murmur. Bilateral crackles.

DX

The findings are suggestive of chronic mitral vale regurgitation

Image Interpretation

Rads of the thorax- The dorsoventral extent of the heart appears to be mildly elongated resulting in mild overall elevation of the trachea. The caudal cardiac waist is lost, mild atrial tenting is seen. There is no evidence of vascular congestion and no evidence of pulmonary edema at this point. The patient is obese.

Outcome

Mild left-sided cardiomegaly without evidence of congestive heart failure
• Otherwise normal geriatric thorax
The most common underlying cause of chronic mitral valve regurgitation is myxomatous degeneration/endocardiosis. However, detailed
assessment and staging would warrant a full cardiac echo, which should be considered
in case of clinical signs.