VTNE Diagnostic Imaging 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which radiographic view is best for evaluating intervertebral disc disease in the thoracolumbar spine of a dog?
- Ventrodorsal
- Lateral recumbent (Correct answer)
- Oblique
- Dorsoventral
Correct answer: Lateral recumbent
The lateral recumbent view provides the best visualization of intervertebral disc spaces and any narrowing or mineralization in the thoracolumbar spine.
Question 2: What is the primary advantage of using ultrasound over radiography when evaluating a splenic mass in a dog?
- Lower cost
- No patient preparation required
- Better soft tissue differentiation and vascularity assessment (Correct answer)
- No radiation exposure and faster results
Correct answer: Better soft tissue differentiation and vascularity assessment
Ultrasound provides superior soft tissue contrast and allows Doppler assessment of blood flow, helping distinguish cystic from solid masses and evaluate vascularity.
Question 3: A radiograph shows a 'ground glass' opacity diffusely throughout the lung fields of a cat. This pattern is most consistent with which condition?
- Pneumothorax
- Pleural effusion
- Pulmonary edema or early consolidation (Correct answer)
- Diaphragmatic hernia
Correct answer: Pulmonary edema or early consolidation
A diffuse ground glass opacity indicates partial alveolar filling, most commonly seen with pulmonary edema, hemorrhage, or early infectious consolidation.
Question 4: When positioning a patient for a VD (ventrodorsal) thoracic radiograph, where should the forelimbs be positioned?
- Flexed alongside the thorax
- Extended cranially, pulled away from the thorax (Correct answer)
- Crossed over the neck
- Positioned caudally alongside the abdomen
Correct answer: Extended cranially, pulled away from the thorax
Forelimbs should be extended cranially and pulled away from the thorax to prevent muscle superimposition over the lung fields.
Question 5: On a lateral abdominal radiograph, the spleen is most commonly visualized in which location?
- Cranial right abdomen adjacent to the right kidney
- Cranial left abdomen, caudal to the stomach (Correct answer)
- Caudal abdomen near the urinary bladder
- Midabdomen dorsal to the intestines
Correct answer: Cranial left abdomen, caudal to the stomach
The spleen typically lies in the cranial left abdomen, immediately caudal to the gastric fundus, and appears as a triangular soft tissue opacity.
Question 6: What is the purpose of using a grid during radiographic exposure?
- To increase patient dose while reducing exposure time
- To reduce scatter radiation reaching the image receptor (Correct answer)
- To collimate the primary beam to the area of interest
- To filter out low-energy photons before they reach the patient
Correct answer: To reduce scatter radiation reaching the image receptor
A grid absorbs scatter radiation produced within the patient, improving image contrast and reducing fog on the final radiograph.
Question 7: In ultrasound terminology, a structure that appears brighter (whiter) than surrounding tissue is described as:
- Anechoic
- Hypoechoic
- Hyperechoic (Correct answer)
- Isoechoic
Correct answer: Hyperechoic
Hyperechoic structures reflect more sound waves back to the transducer, appearing brighter white relative to surrounding tissue on the ultrasound image.
VTNE Diagnostic Imaging 2
Which radiographic view is best for evaluating intervertebral disc disease in the thoracolumbar spine of a dog?