This document provides information on radiographic interpretation of various body systems in animals. It begins with an introduction to radiographic interpretation and factors that affect accurate interpretation. It then discusses systematic interpretation and provides details on interpreting radiographs of the neck, thorax, abdomen, bones and joints. Key points include how different tissues appear on radiographs, normal anatomy, and radiographic signs of common diseases. The document emphasizes that radiography provides adjunct information and diagnosis requires correlating radiographic findings with clinical history and examination.

1. AVINASH
BVN13007

2. INTRODUCTION:-
 Radiographic Interpretation is translation of
radiographic image into an explanation of the
pathology underlying the abnormalities that are
observed.
 But it should be remembered that radiography is
not an absolute diagnostic tool but only an
adjunct to clinical diagnosis. Similar radiological
sign may be produced by different disease.

3. Cont…
 Air allows the most x-rays through the animal,
resulting in a dark image.
 Fat is next, creating an image that appears
lighter than air.
 Lighter still is fluid or soft tissue.
 Structures that are very dense (such as bone)
block most of the photons, and appear white
on developed film.
 It should be done when the film is dry.

4. Cont…
 Head should be on left hand side.
 Head & Vertebral column should come on
top line.
 Pelvic side should be on right hand side and
diaphragm should be left hand side.
 For viewing go fr0m center in circular
manner. Or from one corner to another
corner. Or from periphery to center part.

6. Cont…
 A radiograph should be viewed on an
illuminator fitted with fluorescent light so that
all parts of the X-Ray film receive similar
intensity of the light.
 Fine details of the radiograph should be
examined minutely before concentrating on
gross lession.
 Instant diagnosis should be avoided.
 Satisfactory radiographic interpretation is
dependent on complete and systematic
evaluation.

7. Important factors for accurate
interpretation:
 History
 Viewing box
 Distant evaluation of X-ray
 Asses the identified abnormality
 Assessment of the duration of the lesion

8. Systematic Radiographic
Interpretation
RADIOGRAPHIC INTERPRETATION
OF NECK AND THORAX

9. Esophagus:-
 Esophagus not usually seen on plain films of
neck/thorax because in its normal collapsed
state its density is same as that of neck&
mediastinum .
 Dilatation of esophagus-it may be segmental
or it may involve the entire length of the
esophagus :- MEGAESOPHAGUS

10. Megaesophagus

11. Heart
 In general, the heart should be approximately 2/3
the height of the thorax and 50% of the width of
the thorax.
 On the lateral view, the heart should
measure approximately 3 IC spaces to 4-5 IC
spaces.
 In the larger dogs, the heart comprises
approximately 70% of the height of the thorax.

12. Ductus arteriosus
The arrowhead points to the aneurysmal
bulge of the descending aorta.

13. Heartworm disease
Enlargement and tortuosity of the caudal
lobar pulmonary arteries
The medial and lateral
margins of the right and left
caudal pulmonary lobar
arteries are identified

14. Pericardial effusions
pericardial and pleural effusion

15. with mitral and tricuspid
valvular insufficiency.
The caudal lobar pulmonary
vessels are enlarged
increased visibility of the
right caudal lobar
pulmonary artery
CARDIOMEGALY

16. HYDROPERICARDIUM

17. Lungs
 A bronchial pattern is characterized by
thickened airways (donuts), or mineralized or
dilated airways, and indicates airway diseases
such as asthma, bronchitis,
emphysema,lungworms and heartworms.
 An alveolar pattern is characterized by an
increased soft tissue opacity, inability to see
vessels, and presence of air bronchograms.
 An interstitial pattern is characterized by an
increased opacity and fuzzy vessel margins

18. Pulmonary mass
with a cavitary pulmonary mass sternal and perihilar lymphadenopathy

19. Pneumothorax

20. Hydrothorax

21. Diaphragmatic hernia

22. RADIOGRAPHIC
INTERPRETATION OF
ABDOMEN

23. Abdominal Radiographic interpretation :-
 Abdominal X-rays provide an image of the
bones and the outlines of a number of internal
organs including the liver, stomach, intestines,
kidneys, bladder, uterus and prostate gland.
 A tumor may blend into the background of
normal organs because they have the same
"opacity," or shade of gray as the normal
tissues.
 Some foreign objects (such as some plastics)
can be invisible on the X-ray.

24. Radiography of a normal abdomen

25. Hepatomegaly
This radiograph also shows hepatomegaly, but in this case the
borders of the liver are not as sharp. This could be due to a
swelling of one of the lobes or fluid in the abdomen. An
enlarged spleen can look like this also.

26. Cont……..
 Some radiographs of a liver with
hepatomegaly don't show the routine shape
of the liver lobes.
 Sometimes we diagnose hepatomegaly or
microhepatica indirectly by looking at the
angle of the stomach.

27. Sometimes we can not say for sure whether an enlarged organ on a
radiograph is the liver. This mass, located near the liver, could also be
an enlarged spleen, small intestine, lymph node, stomach, or even
pancreas

28. Urinary stones

29. Normal kidney

30. Calcification of adrenal gland in kidney

31. Spleenomegaly

32. Abnormal uterus (pyometra)
This x-ray shows an enlarged uterus in the abdomen. The uterus (U) is the
area just to the left of the bladder (B). You can see it as several areas that are
circular or elongate. A normal uterus does not usually show up on an x-ray.

33. BONE AND
JOINTS

34. Interpretation of radiographic
lesion:
1. FRACTURE- evaluation of normal
healing
 A lucent line noticed at the beginning
 Osteocalcis along the fracture line within 5
days
 Bridging calcified periosteal callous
formation
 Remodeling of callous with restoration of
continuity of the medullary cavity and cortex

35. 2. FRACTURE- non union
 Irregular translucent fracture line present
 The broken ends of the bone appear white
 Obliteration of the medullary cavity
3. DISLOCATION
 Malalignment and displacement of the
apposing articular surfaces
 Disruption of adjacent fascial plane
 Periarticular soft tissue swelling

36. 4. SEPTIC ARTHRITIS
 Periarticular soft tissue swelling and
distension of joint capsule
 In early stages- increase in joint space due to
synovial effusion
 As the disease progresses- narrowing of the
joint space due to destruction of the articular
surfaces
 In advanced case- widening of joint space
due to subchondral bone destruction.

37. 4. OSTEO ARTHRITIS:
 Synovial effusion initial widening of the
radiolucent joint space
 perichondral osteophyte formation
 mineralization of intra articular and peri
articular soft tissues

38. SCAPULAR BODY AND SPINE
FRACTURE:

39. FIG. 24-5 This distal one-third transverse fracture of the radius and
ulna (A) was treated with open reduction and internal fixation
using a plate and screws (B). This type of fracture could also be
treated with open reduction and external fixation if treated soon
after the injury. This particular animal presented 2 weeks after the
injury (which had been treated) in a cast without reduction.

40. (A) Cranial-caudal radiograph of a distal transverse radial
and segmental ulnar fracture in a German shepherd. (B)
Lateral radiograph demonstrates fixation using an ulnar
Steinmann pin and a radial bone plate. (C) The fracture 10
weeks later following bony union

41. Normal canine hip: (vd view)
In hip dysplasia,
normal conventional
view is extended
ventrodorsal
projection of
coxofemoral joint.
Another method is
ventrodorsal
distraction
projection

42. Hip dysplasia with rotation of
stifle joint-vd view

43. Right-acetabular fracture.
Left- hip luxation and subtrochanteric femoral
fracture.

44. Femur fracture(after reduction)
mediolateral view

45. Chronic LUXATION OF PATELLA with
angulations femoral condyle.( luxation of patella
is superimposed on trochlea of the femur)

46. Changes in the infrapatellar fat pad located between
the arrows- increased synovial volume (JOINT
DISEASE)

47. Soft tissue mass(solid arrows) and aggressive
periosteal new bone(open arrows) indicating
an aggressive bone lesion- malunion fracture

48. Sclerotic lesion in the distal diaphysis and
metaphysis (Femur-lateral):-

49. REFRENCES
 VETERINARY RADIOLOGY
A.P.SINGH
JIT SINGH
 RUMINANT SURGERY
R.P.S.TYAGI
JIT SINGH
A.P.SINGH
P.K.PESHIN

50. THANK YOU