Ultrasound is widely available and frequently used in veterinary medicine, mainly to image the abdominal cavity. However, it can also be used in a variety of indications outside the abdomen, including the thoracic cavity, eyes, bicipital tendon, neck,and brain. It is readily available, relatively inexpensive, safe, usually does not require sedation or anesthesia, and is quickly performed. Noncardiac ultrasound complements radiography in the examination of patients with chest wall, pleural space, mediastinal and pulmonary disease. Indications include evaluation of peripheral lesions not surrounded by air or thoracic diseases associated with pleural effusion, since ultrasound waves are reflected at soft-tissue gas interfaces such as the pleural surface. Pleural effusion provides an ideal window for ultrasonographic evaluation of thoracic structures and actually allows better visibility of intrathoracic structures where it obscures lesions on radiographs. Radiographic soft-tissue lesions can be further characterized as being cystic or solid, and vascularization can be determined using Doppler.
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