Thoracic radiographic findings for dogs with cardiac tamponade attributable to pericardial effusion

摘要

OBJECTIVE—To determine the prevalence of various radiographic findings for dogs with cardiactamponade (CT) attributable to pericardial effusion (PE) and to determine the sensitivityand specificity of such findings for identification of affected dogs.DESIGN—Retrospective, randomized, blinded, controlled study.ANIMALS—50 dogs with CT attributable to PE and 23 control dogs (10 healthy dogs and 13dogs with cardiac diseases other than CT).PROCEDURES—Thoracic radiographic images of dogs were evaluated by an observer whowas unaware of the dogs’ medical histories. For each dog, a vertebral heart score, globoidappearance of the cardiac silhouette, and convexity of the dorsocaudal aspect of the cardiacsilhouette were determined.RESULTS—The sensitivity and specificity of enlargement of the cardiac silhouette (vertebralheart score, 10.7) for identification of dogs with CT attributable to PE were 77.6% and47.8%, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of a globoid appearance of the cardiac silhouettefor identification dogs with CT were 41.9% and 40.0%, respectively. The sensitivityand specificity of a convex appearance of the dorsocaudal aspect of the cardiac silhouettefor identification of dogs with CT were 57.1% and 35.0%, respectively.CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE—Results of this study indicated none of the evaluatedradiographic variables was highly (> 90%) sensitive or specific for identification of dogs withCT attributable to PE. Thoracic radiographic findings should not be considered reliable foridentification of dogs with CT attributable to PE.