Radiological evaluation of cardiomegaly and Lung lesions related to heart disease in dog referred to Tehran hospitals and veterinary clinics

Background: Cardiomegaly is a common cardiac abnormality in dogs, often linked with pulmonary complications and congestive heart failure. Radiological evaluation plays a key role in detecting heart enlargement and associated lung lesions. Accurate identification of cardiomegaly through imaging supports early diagnosis and treatment of underlying cardiac conditions. Methods: This study evaluated ۱۰۰ dogs of various breeds referred to veterinary hospitals in Tehran. Detailed clinical examination and radiographic imaging were performed. Vertebral Heart Score (VHS) was used to assess cardiac size. Thoracic radiographs were taken in standard dorsoventral and ventrodorsal positions. A digital imaging software was employed to measure VHS, and statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS v۲۶. Results: Out of ۱۰۰ dogs, ۲۵ showed evidence of cardiomegaly. Generalized cardiomegaly was the most common type (۳۲%), followed by left ventricular enlargement (۲۴%) and right ventricular enlargement (۲۰%). The mean VHS in affected dogs was ۱۱.۷۶±۳.۴. Lung pattern analysis revealed bronchial (۴۴%) and alveolar-vascular (۲۴%) patterns as most associated with cardiomegaly. ROC curve analysis showed high diagnostic accuracy for the VHS method (AUC = ۰.۷۸۴). Male dogs showed a higher prevalence than females. Conclusion: Radiographic evaluation, especially using VHS, is an effective, non-invasive method for diagnosing cardiomegaly in dogs. Generalized heart enlargement is frequently accompanied by bronchial lung patterns. The findings highlight the importance of thoracic radiography in detecting both cardiac and pulmonary changes and emphasize the clinical value of VHS as a reliable diagnostic tool

کلیدواژه ها:

Cardiomegaly ، Radiography ، Pulmonary Diseases ، Dogs