title: COMPARISON OF THORACIC ULTRASONOGRAPHY AND RADIOGRAPHY FOR THE DETECTION OF INDUCED SMALL VOLUME PNEUMOTHORAX IN THE HORSE.
abstract: Small volume pneumothorax can be challenging to diagnose in horses. The current standard method for diagnosis is standing thoracic radiography. We hypothesized that thoracic ultrasonography would be more sensitive. Objectives of this prospective, experimental study were to describe a thoracic ultrasound method for detection of small volume pneumothorax in horses and to compare results of radiography and ultrasound in a sample of horses with induced small volume pneumothorax. Six mature healthy horses were recruited for this study. For each horse, five 50 ml air boluses were sequentially introduced via a teat cannula into the pleural space. Lateral thoracic radiographs and standardized ultrasound (2D and M-mode) examinations of both hemithoraces were performed following administration of each 50 ml air bolus. Radiographs and ultrasound images/videos were analyzed for detection of pneumothorax by four independent investigators who were unaware of treatment status. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive values, negative predictive values, and agreement among investigators (Kappa test, κ) were calculated for radiography, 2D and M-mode ultrasound. Comparisons were made using a chi-squared exact test with significance set at P < 0.05. Two-dimensional (84%) and M-mode (80%) ultrasound were more sensitive than radiography (48%) for pneumothorax detection (P = 0.02 and P = 0.04, respectively). Specificity and positive predictive values were similar for all three imaging modalities (P = 1). Agreement between investigators for pneumothorax detection was excellent for 2D ultrasound (κ = 1), very good for M-mode ultrasound (κ = 0.87), and good for radiography (κ = 0.79). Findings from this experimental study supported the use of thoracic ultrasonography as a diagnostic method for detecting pneumothorax in horses.
authors.affiliation: Scone Equine Hospital, Scone, NSW, 2337, Australia.
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Partlow
authors.affiliation: Bjerke Dyrehospital- En Rikstotoklinikk, Refstadveien 1, Oslo, 0589, Norway.
authors.forename: Florent
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: David
authors.affiliation: The Roslin Institute, Royal (Dick), School of Veterinary Studies, Easter Bush Campus, Midlothian, Edinburgh EH25 9RG, Scotland, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Luanne Michelle
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Hunt
authors.affiliation: Clinique Équine de Conques, Château de Conques , 33420, Saint Aubin De Branne, France.
authors.forename: Fabien
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Relave
authors.affiliation: Clinique Vétérinaire Langedocia, 395 rue Maurice Béjart, 34080, Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Blond
authors.affiliation: VetCT, St. John's Innovation Centre, Cowley Road, Cambridge, CB4 0WS, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pinilla
authors.affiliation: Université de Montréal, Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Département de Sciences Cliniques, 3200 rue Sicotte, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, J2S 7C6, Canada.
authors.forename: Jean-Pierre
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Lavoie
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D006736:Horses; D008297:Male; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*
keywords: equine; horse; pneumothorax; radiography; thorax; ultrasound