J Vet Sci.  2008 Dec;9(4):401-405. 10.4142/jvs.2008.9.4.401.

Ultrasonographic evaluation of tracheal collapse in dogs

• Eom K
• Moon K
• Seong Y
• Oh T
• Yi S
• Lee K
• Jang K

• KMID: 1104916
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4142/jvs.2008.9.4.401

Abstract

Tracheal ultrasonography was performed to measure the width of the tracheal ring shadow and to assess the clinical relevance of these measurements for identifying tracheal collapse. The first tracheal ring width (FTRW) and thoracic inlet tracheal ring width (TITRW) were measured on both expiration and inspiration. The mean of the FTRW width (129 dogs) was greater in expiration (10.97 +/- 1.02 mm, p = 0.001) than that in inspiration (9.86 +/- 1.03 mm). For 51 normal dogs, the mean of the TITRW width was greater in expiration (9.05 +/- 1.52 mm, p = 0.001) than in inspiration (8.02 +/- 1.43 mm). For 78 tracheal collapse dogs, the mean of the TITRW width was greater in expiration (15.89 +/- 1.01 mm, p = 0.001) than in inspiration (14.85 +/- 1.17 mm). The TITRW/FTRW ratio of the normal dogs was higher (p = 0.001) in expiration (0.81 +/- 0.09) than that in inspiration (0.79 +/- 0.10). When compared between the normal and tracheal collapse dogs, the TITRW/FTRW ratio was also increased (p = 0.001) both in expiration (1.54 +/- 0.09) and inspiration (1.47 +/- 0.08), respectively. Based on these results, the cutoff level of the TITRW/FTRW ratio was statistically analyzed according to the receiver operating characteristic curve and it could be set at 1.16 in expiration and at 1.13 in inspiration. We have demonstrated that tracheal ultrasonography is a useful technique for the evaluation of tracheal collapse and it can be a supportive tool together with the radiographic findings for making the correct diagnosis.

Keyword

dog; tracheal collapse; tracheal ring; tracheal ultrasonography

MeSH Terms

Animals
Dog Diseases/diagnosis/pathology/*ultrasonography
Dogs
Female
Male
Radiography, Thoracic/*veterinary
Sensitivity and Specificity
Trachea/*pathology/radiography
Tracheal Stenosis/diagnosis/pathology/veterinary

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Normal transverse image of the first tracheal ring (A) and the thoracic inlet tracheal ring (B) of a 4-year-old Yorkshire Terrier. An oval shaped hyperechoic tracheal ring (empty arrows) can be seen. The tracheal ring width can be measured between the end points (white arrows) that produce acoustic shadowing. The FTRW and TITRW are 13.4 mm and 11.1 mm, respectively. The sternohyoid (*), sternothyroid (white arrowhead) and sternocephalicus (two arrowheads) muscles are indicated. C: carotid artery, J: jugular vein, Bc: brachiocephalicus muscle, Lc: longus capitis muscle, TG: thyroid gland.

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  Fig. 2 Transverse image in a 7-year-old Miniature Poodle with severe tracheal collapse. The first tracheal ring (A) shows a semicircular shadow, but the thoracic inlet tracheal ring (B) is flattened and displaced laterally. The sternohyoid muscle (*) and carotid artery (C) are seen. The FTRW (white arrows) and TITRW (black arrows) are 11.3 mm and 17.1 mm, respectively.

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