J Vet Sci.  2017 Dec;18(4):499-505. 10.4142/jvs.2017.18.4.499.

Fluoroscopic characteristics of tracheal collapse and cervical lung herniation in dogs: 222 cases (2012–2015)

• Lee J
• Yun S
• Lee I
• Choi M
• Yoon J

• KMID: 2398509
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4142/jvs.2017.18.4.499

Abstract

This retrospective study included 222 dogs suspected to have tracheal collapse (TC) and examined between 1 January 2012 and 31 December 2015. Fluoroscopic and radiographic images and medical records were evaluated to investigate the fluoroscopic characteristics of TC and cervical lung herniation (CLH), and to determine their relationships to various influencing. Grade of TC, existence of tracheal kinking, location of CLH (right or left side), and grade of CLH were evaluated fluoroscopically. One hundred ninety-nine dogs (89.6%) were diagnosed with TC. Presence of TC was not associated with the patients' cough history; however, CLH was positively correlated with cough history (odds ratio [OR], 2.896; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.556 to 5.390) and was affected by tracheal kinking (OR, 3.841; 95% CI, 1.884 to 7.831). Chronic cough was not related with CLH. Since TC can be observed in patients without a history of cough, presence of TC should be ruled out by using physical examination and diagnostic imaging. Although CLH is associated with a history of cough, it is a common appearance in dogs, and transient coughing can elicit CLH in patients without a history of cough.

Keyword

cervical lung herniation; dogs; fluoroscopy; tracheal collapse

MeSH Terms

Animals
Cough
Diagnostic Imaging
Dogs*
Fluoroscopy
Humans
Lung*
Medical Records
Physical Examination
Retrospective Studies

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 A fluoroscopic image of a dog in humanoid position during a coughing phase. The left cranial lung lobe (curved solid line) is extruded to the caudal 5th cervical spine (C5). The dog was diagnosed with grade 3 cervical lung herniation. C, cervical vertebrae; R, right; L, left.

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  Fig. 2 Right lateral (A) and ventrodorsal (B) thoracic radiographs showing locations for determining thoracic inlet distance (*), thoracic depth (†), and width of the thorax at the level of 1st and 8th ribs in a dog. Diameter of the thoracic inlet was measured from the ventral margin of the vertebral body at the midpoint of the most cranial rib to the dorsal margin of the manubrium at the level of minimal thickness. Thoracic depth was measured from the xiphoid process to the vertebral body perpendicular to the line from the xiphoid process. Width of the thorax was measured from the medial borders of the 1st and 8th ribs.

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  Fig. 3 Cervical lung herniation (CLH) grade is positively correlated with the amount of tracheal kinking.

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  Fig. 4 Cervical lung herniation (CLH) grade is positively correlated with history of cough.

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