Radiographic abnormalities in cats with feline bronchial disease and intra- and interobserver variability in radiographic interpretation: 40 cases (1999-2006).
OBJECTIVE
To determine prevalence of various radiographic signs in cats with feline bronchial disease (FBD) and evaluate intra- and interobserver variability in radiographic interpretation for examiners with variable degrees of experience in radiographic interpretation.


METHODS
Retrospective case series.


METHODS
40 cats with FBD and 40 control cats without thoracic disease.


METHODS
Radiographic abnormalities in cats with FBD were scored by consensus of 2 radiologists. Radiographs of control cats and cats with FBD were examined twice by 5 other individuals, and diagnostic accuracy and observer agreement were assessed.


RESULTS
In cats with FBD, the most common radiographic signs were bronchial (n=37) and unstructured interstitial (30) lung patterns, lung hyperinflation (31) and hyperlucency (21), aerophagia (19), and lung soft tissue opacities (11). Ratios of lung inflation on ventrodorsal views were significantly higher in cats with FBD. For the 5 examiners, sensitivity ranged from 71% to 89% and specificity ranged from 43% to 74%. Intraobserver agreement was good (N=0.47 to 0.60), but the agreement between examiners was only poor to good (N=0.22 to 0.70). For most examiners, significant associations were found between examiner diagnosis (correct vs incorrect), level of examiner certainty, and bronchial pattern severity.


CONCLUSIONS
Findings suggested that several radiographic abnormalities can commonly be seen in cats with FBD but highlighted the limitations of thoracic radiography. Examiner diagnosis and level of confidence were significantly associated with severity of a bronchial pattern.
Gadbois
Julie
J
Companion Animal Research Group, Département de Sciences Cliniques, Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, St-Hyacinthe, QC J2S 7C6, Canada.
d'Anjou
Marc-André
MA
Dunn
Marilyn
M
Alexander
Kate
K
Beauregard
Guy
G
D'Astous
Jérôme
J
De Carufel
Myriam
M
Breton
Luc
L
Beauchamp
Guy
G
D000818:Animals; D001982:Bronchial Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D002415:Cats; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D015588:Observer Variation; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic / Q000592:standards / Q000662:veterinary*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index