Utility of Thoracic Computed Tomographic Lung Patterns in Dogs and Cats (Planned by VCRS)

Presentation Description / Summary: Thoracic radiographic interpretation relies on a pattern-based approach, using differential lists generated for bronchial, interstitial, and alveolar patterns. However, while widely used, it is becoming increasingly recognized that radiographs often poorly reflect anatomic localization of disease. Additionally, thoracic radiographs may be normal in light of clinically significant lung disease. Thoracic computed tomography (CT) comparatively provides substantially more detailed information and has closer histologic correlates than radiography. This lecture will cover suggestions for optimizing the protocol for high-quality thoracic CT studies and review the different CT lung patterns (increased attenuation, decreased attenuation, nodular and linear patterns) with their sub patterns. It will provide a foundation for interpretation of thoracic CTs, including list of differentials and highlighting certain disorders which can not be recognized using thoracic radiography.