Study Finds Low Utility of Routine Preoperative Thoracic Radiographs in Dogs Without Thoracic Disease Symptoms

A recent study evaluated the necessity of routine preoperative thoracic radiographs in dogs scheduled for elective tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO) when there were no clinical signs or history suggesting thoracic or cardiopulmonary disease. The study, published in AJVR, aimed to assess the usefulness of this test in such patients.

The study analyzed 281 dogs, each of which underwent three-view thoracic radiographs. The results showed that only 3.6% of the cases (10 dogs) revealed radiographic abnormalities that might influence the decision to proceed with surgery. There was no clear correlation between the dog's age and the likelihood of finding a significant radiographic abnormality. Additionally, the agreement between the attending clinician and the radiologist in identifying abnormalities, especially cardiovascular and pulmonary issues, was poor. However, there was slight agreement in detecting extrathoracic abnormalities.

The findings suggest that routine preoperative screening thoracic radiographs may have limited value in dogs without clinical signs indicating thoracic disease. The poor agreement between the clinician’s and the radiologist’s findings further emphasizes the need for a radiologist's review in these cases. Clinicians should carefully weigh the need for thoracic radiographs in these patients before recommending them as part of the preoperative screening.

This study offers valuable insights for clinicians when considering whether to include thoracic radiographs as a routine diagnostic tool in dogs with no history or exam findings pointing to thoracic or cardiopulmonary issues.

Read the full study here: https://avmajournals.avma.org/view/journals/ajvr/aop/ajvr.24.11.0352/ajvr.24.11.0352.xml