Case Study

RAD – Aspiration pneumonia in a 4 month old F French Bulldog

This 4 month old F French Bulldog presented for choking on food the previous day.

DX

Severe bilateral alveolar infiltrate suggestive for aspiration pneumonia, likely complicated by generalization of pneumonia, non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema or ARDS-type infiltrate in remainder of the lung • Esophageal dilation and redundancy with abnormal content

Image Interpretation

Rads of the thorax –

The esophagus is redundant and presents mild generalized dilation. The cranial thoracic esophagus is dilated with gas whereas soft tissue opaque content is noted within the caudal thoracic esophagus. The cranioventral lung reveals a lobar alveolar pattern with airbronchograms and maintained lobar volume. The caudodorsal lung presents a moderate to severe regional alveolar infiltrate with airbronchograms.

Outcome

No indirect indication of a vascular ring anomaly. Possible underlying causes include congenital hiatal hernia with/without reflux esophagitis, esophageal foreign body, congenital megaesophagus.
Consider endoscopy and/or barium swallow study for further definition