ABSTRACT
Good quality thoracic radiographs can provide vital information about overall cardiac size and shape, pulmonary blood vessel size, and possible lung edema or other infiltrates, especially in small animals. Potential abnormalities of the major airways, pleural space, mediastinum, and diaphragm also can be detected. Lateral recumbency sometimes complicates interpretation of lung opacity. Proper patient positioning is important for accurate assessment of the cardiac shape and size, as well as the pulmonary parenchyma. Conscious sedation can assist positioning and also relieve stress associated with the procedure, for both patient and technicians. The shortest exposure time possible should be used to minimize respiratory motion. Breed differences in chest conformation influence the radiographic appearance of the heart. Manubrium heart scores are obtained by measuring the lengths of the manubrium and the cardiac short- and long-axes in mm on a right lateral view.
