A Novel Standardized Method for Aiding to Determine Left Atrial Enlargement on Lateral Thoracic Radiographs in Dogs
Background: Left atrial enlargement indicates severe cardiac disease. Although the gold standard for determining left atrial size is echocardiography, many veterinary practices lack the necessary equipment and expertise. Therefore, thoracic radiography is often used to differentiate cardiogenic pulm...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2023-07-01
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| Series: | Animals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/13/2178 |
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| author | Viktor Szatmári Zelie M. M. Hofman Nynke J. van Bijsterveldt Anna R. Tellegen Federico R. Vilaplana Grosso |
| author_facet | Viktor Szatmári Zelie M. M. Hofman Nynke J. van Bijsterveldt Anna R. Tellegen Federico R. Vilaplana Grosso |
| author_sort | Viktor Szatmári |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Left atrial enlargement indicates severe cardiac disease. Although the gold standard for determining left atrial size is echocardiography, many veterinary practices lack the necessary equipment and expertise. Therefore, thoracic radiography is often used to differentiate cardiogenic pulmonary edema from primary respiratory diseases and to facilitate distinguishing dogs with stage B1 and B2 mitral valve degeneration. Methods: The goal was to test a new standardized method for identifying radiographic left atrial enlargement. On a lateral radiograph, a straight line was drawn from the dorsal border of the tracheal bifurcation to the crossing point of the dorsal border of the caudal vena cava and the most cranial crus of the diaphragm. If a part of the left atrium extended this line dorsally, it was considered enlarged. Echocardiographic left atrial to aortic ratio (LA:Ao) was used as a reference. Thirty-nine observers with various levels of experience evaluated 90 radiographs, first subjectively, then applying the new method. Results: The new method moderately correlated with LA:Ao (r = 0.56–0.66) in all groups. The diagnostic accuracy (72–74%) of the subjective assessment and the new method showed no difference. Conclusions: Though the new method was not superior to subjective assessment, it may facilitate learning and subjective interpretation. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T01:48:12Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-83e852bab4cf4e57a81eeccf6e72654c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T01:48:12Z |
| publishDate | 2023-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-83e852bab4cf4e57a81eeccf6e72654c2023-11-18T16:04:08ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152023-07-011313217810.3390/ani13132178A Novel Standardized Method for Aiding to Determine Left Atrial Enlargement on Lateral Thoracic Radiographs in DogsViktor Szatmári0Zelie M. M. Hofman1Nynke J. van Bijsterveldt2Anna R. Tellegen3Federico R. Vilaplana Grosso4Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 108, 3584 CM Utrecht, The NetherlandsDepartment of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 108, 3584 CM Utrecht, The NetherlandsDepartment of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 108, 3584 CM Utrecht, The NetherlandsDepartment of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 108, 3584 CM Utrecht, The NetherlandsDepartment of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 108, 3584 CM Utrecht, The NetherlandsBackground: Left atrial enlargement indicates severe cardiac disease. Although the gold standard for determining left atrial size is echocardiography, many veterinary practices lack the necessary equipment and expertise. Therefore, thoracic radiography is often used to differentiate cardiogenic pulmonary edema from primary respiratory diseases and to facilitate distinguishing dogs with stage B1 and B2 mitral valve degeneration. Methods: The goal was to test a new standardized method for identifying radiographic left atrial enlargement. On a lateral radiograph, a straight line was drawn from the dorsal border of the tracheal bifurcation to the crossing point of the dorsal border of the caudal vena cava and the most cranial crus of the diaphragm. If a part of the left atrium extended this line dorsally, it was considered enlarged. Echocardiographic left atrial to aortic ratio (LA:Ao) was used as a reference. Thirty-nine observers with various levels of experience evaluated 90 radiographs, first subjectively, then applying the new method. Results: The new method moderately correlated with LA:Ao (r = 0.56–0.66) in all groups. The diagnostic accuracy (72–74%) of the subjective assessment and the new method showed no difference. Conclusions: Though the new method was not superior to subjective assessment, it may facilitate learning and subjective interpretation.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/13/2178dyspneaheart failuremyxomatous mitral valve degenerationpimobendanstage B |
| spellingShingle | Viktor Szatmári Zelie M. M. Hofman Nynke J. van Bijsterveldt Anna R. Tellegen Federico R. Vilaplana Grosso A Novel Standardized Method for Aiding to Determine Left Atrial Enlargement on Lateral Thoracic Radiographs in Dogs Animals dyspnea heart failure myxomatous mitral valve degeneration pimobendan stage B |
| title | A Novel Standardized Method for Aiding to Determine Left Atrial Enlargement on Lateral Thoracic Radiographs in Dogs |
| title_full | A Novel Standardized Method for Aiding to Determine Left Atrial Enlargement on Lateral Thoracic Radiographs in Dogs |
| title_fullStr | A Novel Standardized Method for Aiding to Determine Left Atrial Enlargement on Lateral Thoracic Radiographs in Dogs |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Novel Standardized Method for Aiding to Determine Left Atrial Enlargement on Lateral Thoracic Radiographs in Dogs |
| title_short | A Novel Standardized Method for Aiding to Determine Left Atrial Enlargement on Lateral Thoracic Radiographs in Dogs |
| title_sort | novel standardized method for aiding to determine left atrial enlargement on lateral thoracic radiographs in dogs |
| topic | dyspnea heart failure myxomatous mitral valve degeneration pimobendan stage B |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/13/2178 |
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