title: Radiographic detection of thoracic lesions in adult cows: a retrospective study of 42 cases (1995-2002).
abstract: Medical records of 42 cows that underwent both thoracic radiographic and postmortem examinations within a period of 7 days were reviewed to develop an evaluation grid to interpret bovine thoracic radiographs and to determine the sensitivity and the specificity of thoracic radiographs for detection of thoracic lesions, based on postmortem examination. Most cows (64%) had clinical signs of respiratory disease, whereas 19% showed signs of cardiac problems. The sensitivity and specificity of radiographs for identifying cows with thoracic lesions were 94% and 50%, respectively. In this study, with a prevalence of thoracic lesions of 86%, the positive- and negative-predictive values were 92% and 57%, respectively. This study provides an evaluation grid that allows standardization of the reading of bovine thoracic radiographs and the identification of most thoracic lesions. Bovine thoracic radiographs are useful in detecting thoracic lesions in cows.
authors.affiliation: Département des sciences cliniques, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, 3200 rue Sicotte, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec.
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Masseau
authors.forename: Gilles
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fecteau
authors.forename: Luc
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Breton
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hélie
authors.forename: Guy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Beauregard
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Blond
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards / Q000662:veterinary*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013909:Thorax / Q000473:pathology*