Diagnostic Imaging Interpretation Flashcards

A 10-year-old Miniature Poodle presents with a chronic cough. On thoracic radiographs, you observe generalized cardiomegaly, elevation of the trachea, a prominent bulge at the caudodorsal aspect of the cardiac silhouette on the lateral view, and a perihilar interstitial to alveolar lung pattern. Which of the following is the most likely radiographic diagnosis?

Answer: Left-sided congestive heart failure

The combination of left atrial enlargement (caudodorsal bulge), left ventricular enlargement (tracheal elevation), and pulmonary edema concentrated in the perihilar region are classic radiographic signs of left-sided congestive heart failure in dogs, often secondary to mitral valve disease.

When performing an abdominal ultrasound on a cat with a suspected linear foreign body, which of the following findings is most pathognomonic for this condition?

Answer: Plication or 'bunching' of the small intestines

While other signs may be present, the most characteristic ultrasonographic finding for a linear foreign body is the plication, or accordion-like bunching, of the intestines as they attempt to move the fixed linear object via peristalsis.

In equine carpal radiography, what is the primary purpose of obtaining oblique views, such as dorsolateral-palmaromedial oblique (DLPMO) and dorsomedial-palmarolateral oblique (DMPLO)?

Answer: To project the complex articular surfaces tangentially, avoiding superimposition

The equine carpus has multiple, small, cuboidal bones with complex articular surfaces. Standard lateral and dorsopalmar views result in significant superimposition. Oblique views are essential to project the different facets and margins of these bones tangentially, allowing for the detection of subtle fractures, sclerosis, or osteophytes that would otherwise be missed.

Which of the following describes a 'mirror image' artifact in ultrasonography?

Answer: An artifactual duplication of a structure on the opposite side of a strong, specular reflector.

A mirror image artifact is created when the ultrasound beam hits a highly reflective, curved interface (like the diaphragm). The beam is reflected, hits another structure, and then returns to the reflector before finally returning to the transducer. The machine misinterprets this longer travel time and places a duplicate image of the structure deeper than the reflective interface.

A veterinarian is evaluating imaging for a dog with acute, severe neck pain and tetraparesis. To best evaluate the spinal cord for compression from a suspected intervertebral disc extrusion, which imaging modality is considered the gold standard?

Answer: Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

MRI is the gold standard for imaging soft tissues like the spinal cord and intervertebral discs. It provides superior contrast resolution, allowing for detailed visualization of the spinal cord, nerve roots, and the extruded disc material without the use of ionizing radiation or intrathecal contrast.

On a thoracic radiograph of a cat, you identify an enlarged, 'valentine-shaped' heart on the dorsoventral (DV) view. This finding is most suggestive of which condition?

Answer: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM)

The classic 'valentine' shape of the feline heart on a DV or VD radiograph is caused by severe bi-atrial enlargement, which is a common finding in cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). The prominent atria form the rounded lobes of the 'valentine'.