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The British Small Animal Veterinary Association published the BSAVA Manual of Canine and Feline Thoracic Imaging in 2008. This manual joins a series of about 35 texts published by the BSAVA concentrating on small animal and exotic medicine and surgery, diagnostic techniques, and veterinary nursing. The editors, Tobias Schwartz and Victoria Johnson, with a host of contributors worldwide, have compiled a text that encompasses the general concepts of small animal thoracic imaging in addition to more detailed information on specific thoracic anatomy.
Radiology is a mainstay of diagnostic abilities especially when encountering a potential disease or disorder within the chest or thoracic region. The thoracic region includes the ribs, lungs, mediastinum, great vessels, pleural space, and the heart. The small animal veterinary practice takes and views radiographs on a daily basis. Interpretation of the radiographs however, can be one of the challenging pieces of the diagnostic puzzle. The manual is divided into two main sections; Chapters one through six explain principles of basic thoracic radiology, thoracic ultrasonography, magnetic resonance imaging, nuclear medicine, and respiratory interventional radiology. Several of these modalities are not readily available to the general practitioner in private practice however understanding the concepts and technology available when referring a small animal patient for additional diagnostic workups is beneficial.
Variations in radiographic anatomy are especially notable in the canine patient, such as breed, age, sex, body condition, respiratory phase, and cardiac cycle. The manual discusses each variation with representative radiograph pictures and diagrams to further clarify radiographic interpretation and variation. Normal architecture is featured in the first chapters so that the practitioner or student can fully appreciate abnormal or diseased structures in the latter portion of the text. Chapter 2: “Basics of Thoracic Ultrasonography” is exemplary in its discussion of patient indications, patient preparation, and technique when scanning the small animal pleural space, lung surface, and mediastinum. The cardiac ultrasound, or echocardiography, is discussed independently in this chapter with an excellent foundation of the procedure, step-wise acquisition of the cardiac images, analysis of the pictures generated, measurements, and calculations. Two outstanding sections in light blue draw the practitioner to well-labeled images with corresponding labeled line drawings for full comprehension. With telemedicine available to most practitioners today, evaluation of ultrasonic images by a certified radiologist or cardiologist can significantly contribute to accurate diagnosis as well.