title: Comparison of radiography and computed tomography for determining tracheal diameter and length in dogs.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare radiographic and computed tomography (CT) measurements of tracheal size as would be made for the purpose of tracheal stent size selection.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-over.
  
  
  METHODS
  Dogs (n = 15).
  
  
  METHODS
  Canine cadavers without evidence of tracheal or respiratory disease were used for CT and digital radiography of the neck and thorax. Three observers each made 3 independent measurements at each of 5 tracheal locations, and also measured tracheal length, on each radiograph and for each CT scan on each cadaver.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CT tracheal measurements were on average 1.03 mm larger (P < .01) compared with radiographic measurements for all 3 observers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Radiographic measurements of the canine trachea consistently underestimate tracheal size, and CT measurements are preferable for selecting tracheal stent size.
authors.affiliation: Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada.
authors.forename: James E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Montgomery
authors.forename: Kyle G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Mathews
authors.forename: Denis J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Marcellin-Little
authors.forename: Steve
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hendrick
authors.forename: James C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Brown
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002102:Cadaver; D004285:Dogs; D023421:Models, Animal; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement; D015607:Stents / Q000662:veterinary*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000662:veterinary; D014132:Trachea / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D014139:Tracheostomy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000662:veterinary