Hello
Moxie is an 11 year old F/S Cocker Spaniel that presented for an acute cough. No heart murmur and a non-productive cough.
Xrays were taken. The heart appears normal to us and it has a VHS of 11 (for what that’s worth). The lungs also appear fairly unremarkable to us. We noted mineralization of the costochondral junction.
Our question is about the trachea at the level of the throracic inlect. We can see what appears to be a normal width trachea in the cervical region and as well as the thoracic trachea.
Hello
Moxie is an 11 year old F/S Cocker Spaniel that presented for an acute cough. No heart murmur and a non-productive cough.
Xrays were taken. The heart appears normal to us and it has a VHS of 11 (for what that’s worth). The lungs also appear fairly unremarkable to us. We noted mineralization of the costochondral junction.
Our question is about the trachea at the level of the throracic inlect. We can see what appears to be a normal width trachea in the cervical region and as well as the thoracic trachea.
The trachea however appears to narrow at the level of the thoracic inlet. We typically take 4 view chest rads. It is visible on both the R and L lateral. Does not have the appearence of a focal mass.
Wondering if this is significant and potentially the cause for the coughing or if it is a positional artifact or other.
Thanks. Brent.p.s.Sorry about the orientation of some of the images.
Comments
Inspiratory expiratory
Inspiratory expiratory tracheal rads would be the way to go here to check dynamic change int he trachea. May just be a tracheal collapse. Otherwise scope as it appears luminal and therefore visible on scope.
Great! Thanks
Great! Thanks
I agree with EL. May be a
I agree with EL. May be a membranous collapse.
I have had some luck on occasion trying to catch an x-ray right when a dog is couging. I usually can get them to cough by compressing the trachea and waiting for the coughing to start and timing my x-ray.
Trachea will normally be smaller going through the Thoracic inlet.
Thanks for the comments.
My
Thanks for the comments.
My technicians complain that since we went digital there is a lag between depressing the pedal and firing the beam that wasen’t there previously. Therefore they find it difficult to get great timing on their X-rays.
I’m not sure if this can be adjusted or is a weakness of the system. Will need to contact technical support.
Thanks. Brent