Pulmonary Panel

Cranioventral Parenchymal Pattern

This test is used to characterize a specific distribution of lung patterns observed on thoracic radiographs. It refers to an increased opacity or density in the cranial and ventral regions of the lung parenchyma. This pattern is often associated with a variety of respiratory diseases in both dogs and cats. This increased opacity can be due to a number of factors, including alveolar infiltrates (fluid, inflammatory cells, or cellular debris within the alveoli), interstitial thickening (increased fluid or cellularity in the spaces between the alveoli), or atelectasis (collapse of lung segments).

 The cranial and ventral lungs are considered normal if;

• Small vessel detail is adequate in the cranioventral portion of the lungs

The cranial and ventral lungs are considered abnormal if;

• Air bronchograms are present - air-filled bronchi on a background of increased opacity, airless lung.

• A lobar sign is present - increased opacity extends to periphery of lung lobe, and stops abruptly, leaving a dramatic transition between abnormal lobe border and adjacent normal lung lobe

• Increased opacity with border effacement of the small vessels is present - detail of the small vessels is lost due to the presence of an increased opacity within the cranial and ventral lung lobe.

• Significant pleural gas is present causing collapse of the cranial and ventral lung lobe.

• Significant pleural effusion is present causing collapse of the cranial and ventral lung lung lobe.