Computed tomography in dogs with acute bronchopneumonia

Computed tomography (CT) is a more accurate method of diagnosing respiratory disorders than X-rays, although it has its limitations and disadvantages (general sedation is necessary, which can be fatal in the presence of respiratory pathology). Bronchopneumonia remains one of the most common diseases of the respiratory system. Depending on the etiology of inflammatory changes, it is classified into aspiration, viral, bacterial, mycotic, and parasitic. The aim of the work was to investigate what changes and to what extent can be detected on CT in dogs with acute bronchopneumonia of various origins. As a result of the study, it was found that the following changes were most common: in all dogs, interstitial (in the lung parenchyma, for example, seals of the "frosted glass" type) and bronchial changes (bronchiectasia, in which the radiological sign of "air bronchograms" appears); alveolar changes (filling of the alveoli with fluid or cellular detritus, leading to a "solid focus" type lung compaction pattern on CT) were observed in 80% of dogs; consolidation areas - extensive areas of discoloration, and, accordingly, lung airiness ("white lung"), were observed in 68% of dogs; changes in the structure of the mediastinum (hydromediastinum) and thoracic lymph nodes (their enlargement) were observed in 36% of dogs; the appearance of a "cobblestone pavement" (a synonym for the "patchwork quilt" sign) - lung tissue was visualized as cells, which made it resemble paving stones, such a change is observed with thickening of the interalveolar septa, observed in 20% of dogs; the appearance of small dense foci in the bronchi, probably bronchitis, was observed in 12% of dogs; formation of abscesses or emphysema were observed in 10% of dogs; vascular pathologies - dilation of veins and arteries, impaired blood flow, vascular embolism, thromboembolism, lung infarction – were observed in 8% of dogs; hydrothorax, the presence of an effusion into the pleural cavity, was observed in 8% of dogs. The changes in 78% of dogs were diffuse and in 22% they were focal. Thus, computed tomography is becoming an indispensable procedure in the complex diagnosis of bronchopneumonia in dogs, providing accurate diagnosis and effective treatment of the disease.