Evaluation of the findings obtained in cases of thorax tomography imaging in cats and dogs in the Thrace Region

The aim of this study is to present the CT findings of lesions seen in the thoracic region in cats and dogs and to establish diagnostic protocols for the imaging of the lesions obtained. In this study, the evaluation of intrathoracic lesions detected in 210 patients (GE High Speed Dual GE medical Systems, Milwaukee, WI 2008 model) who applied to private veterinary hospitals in Thrace region between 2022-2023 with the complaint of thoracic diseases or who were screened for metastasis and the interventional radiological procedures performed intrathoracically in 35 patients will be discussed. In our study, 56 different CT findings were detected in the thoracic region and soft tissues in the examination area. These findings were as follows: Expanded appearance in the lung in 23 cases (10.95%), signs of pulmonary haemorrhage in 7 cases (3.33%), air cysts in the lung in 4 cases (1.90%), calcified nodules in the lung in 1 case (0.48%), nodules in the lung in 3 cases (1.43%), signs of pulmonary oedema in 5 cases (2.38%), pulmonary oedema in 20 cases (9%),52%) increased emphysematous aeration, atheroma plaques in the aortic root in 1 case (0.48%), atelectasis in 52 cases (24.76%), hernia diaphramatica in 8 cases (3.80%), bronchopneumonic infiltration findings in 7 cases (3.33%), ground-glass changes in 88 cases (41.90%), dextra-cardia in 2 cases (0.95%), and bronchopneumonic infiltration findings in 1 case (0,48%) subcutaneous abscess collection, 5 cases (2,38%) subcutaneous mass, 5 cases (2,38%) subcutaneous lopoma, 1 case (0,48%) empyema findings, 1 case (0,48%) haemopericardium, 1 case (0.48%) haemopneumothorax, 2 cases (0.95%) hiatal hernia, 6 cases (2.86%) intrathoracic mass formation, 5 cases (2%,38%) left-right deviation of the heart, calcific lymph nodes in 1 case (0.48%), marked increase in cardiothoracic index in 10 cases (4.76%), consolidated areas in 43 cases (20.48%), costal fracture in 18 cases (8.57%), costal hyperostosis and expansion in 1 case (0.48%), lymphadenopathy in 4 cases (1.90%), lymphadenopathy in 3 cases (1%),43%) mediastinal haemorrhage, 1 case (0.48%) mediastinal cystic mass, 1 case (0.48%) mediastinal lymphadenopathy, 1 case (0.48%) megaesophagus, 5 cases (2%,38%) mass in the thoracic breast lobes, arthrosis findings in the shoulder joint in 1 case (0.48%), metastatic foci in the lung parenchyma in 9 cases (4.29%), metastatic foci in the lung parenchyma in 1 case (0,48%) pectus excavatum deformity, 9 cases (4.29%) pericardial effusion, 4 cases (1.90%) hypertrophy of pericardial adipose tissue, 34 cases (16%,19%) pleural effusion, pneumonic infiltration findings in 15 cases (7.14%), pneumomediastinum in 4 cases (1.90%), pneumothorax in 38 cases (18.10%), pneumothorax in 1 case (0%,48%) pulmonary embolism findings, atherosclerosis in pulmonary vascular structures in 1 case (0.48%), dilatation in pulmonary vascular structures in 2 cases (0.95%), scapula fracture in 6 cases (2.86%), hypertrophy in thymus gland in 2 cases (0.95%), increase in thoracic kyphosis in 3 cases (1.43%), thoracic metastatic focus in 1 case (0.48%), 1 case (0.48%) thoracic scoliosis, 27 cases (12.86%) degenerative changes in thoracic vertebrae, 6 cases (2.86%) thoracic vertebral fractures, 1 case (0.48%) congenital loss of height in thoracic vertebrae, 1 case (0.48%) tracheal collapse and 14 cases (6.67%) soft tissue emphysema. In the evaluation of thorax CT, it is possible to see pathologies such as emphysema in a patient with emphysema, atelectasis, ground glass appearance in the same patient, or pathologies such as pneumothorax or haemothorax in the same CT examination as a result of a patient with a mass lesion falling from a height. In conclusion, CT provides important information in the diagnosis of intrathoracic pathologies. The 56 CT findings in cats and dogs, which were the subject of our study, are considered to be common findings that should be taken into consideration in the evaluation of CT scans of the thoracic region, and it is recommended that these findings should be evaluated first.