Objectives

 To practice basic interpretation principles using selected diseases of the thorax. The session is intended to reinforce the principles discussed during a previous hour of formal lecture.

 A collection of nine cases are presented below. However, it is highly unlikely to cover more than four cases in a one-hour discussion. CT findings and conclusions will be discussed with active audience participation.

 For all cases, list your CT findings and most likely diagnosis.

Case S181196

Five-year-old, spayed female Bernese mountain dog, acute onset of shallow, rapid breaths. A lateral radiograph was done, which revealed the presence of pleural effusion. A thoracocentesis and ultrasound were also done in which hypoechoic masses in the pleural cavity were noted.

Case S220444

History of wheezing, trying to catch breath when excited, occasional episodes without excitement. No syncope, no cough ever. Known chewer and has chewed unplugged electrical cords, but never live cords. Increased respiratory rate and effort when stressed, improved quickly when back on oxygen.

Case S210361

Ten-year-old Greyhound, spayed female. Tachypnea and decreased appetite. The last couple of weeks may be coughing. On initial presentation, radiographs revealed diffuse interstitial and nodular pattern compatible with metastatic neoplasia.

Case 194

Three-year-old Great Pyrenees, spayed female. Acute dyspnea, coughing, and pleural effusion 2 days after removal of left lung lobe.

Case 303091

Fourteen-year-old, spayed female mixed breed. Breathing difficulty. Severe dyspnea for 2 weeks' duration and worsening. Initial response to prednisone and antibiotics worsening since then. Icteric and high liver enzymes.

Case 304479

Two-year-old German shepherd, neutered male, presented with chronic vomiting and diarrhea. Pleural effusion with right middle lung lobe consolidation on radiographs.

Case 310831

Twelve-year-old Standard Poodle, castrated male. Some coughing for the last two days. Sometime the last 12 hours began acting very lethargic. Radiographs showed a severe alveolar pattern in the right middle and cranial lung lobes and a moderately gas-dilated esophagus.

Case 317432

Spayed female Mastiff of unknown age. Painful on palpation of the chest wall. Increased respiratory rate.

Case 166197

Three-year-old Labrador, spayed female. Chronic cough, crackles, wheezes. Has been on short- and long-term antibiotics. Improves with therapy but worsens when antibiotics are discontinued.