Love At First Slice: CT of the Thorax

In this episode of Diagnostic Tails, Dr. Amy Armentrout and Dr. Lon Hays break down the power of CT in small-animal medicine, spotlighting why CT consistently outperforms radiographs - especially for detecting pulmonary nodules, planning oncology cases, and guiding complex procedures. They explore when sedation is enough, when anesthesia is required, and how contrast, breath-holds, and modern fan-beam technology elevate diagnostic accuracy. The conversation moves through real cases including Sancho’s hidden metastatic disease, a CT-guided lung mass aspirate, a young dog with a vascular anomaly, and an inventive urethral stricture study - illustrating how CT changes outcomes, improves surgical planning, and saves patients from unnecessary procedures. They wrap with a practical comparison of CT vs. MRI and clear guidance on choosing the right modality for the right case.   EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:00:00–01:00 — Intro to thoracic CT & why it’s a go-to modality.  01:00–02:30 — CT advantages: speed, clarity, and value over radiographs.  03:30–05:15 — Sedation vs. anesthesia, contrast use, and why breath-holds matter.  05:15–06:30 — Fan-beam vs. cone-beam CT: what’s the difference?  07:00–09:15 — Case 1: Sancho - clean X-rays, but CT reveals multiple pulmonary nodules.  10:12–11:25 — Case 2: Snickers - CT-guided lung mass aspirate and why ultrasound can’t reach it.  11:58–12:35 — Case 3: Persistent Right Aortic Arch - diagnosing a congenital vascular anomaly.  15:00–15:57 — Case 4: Urethral stricture - creative retrograde contrast CT for surgical planning.  16:15–17:40 — Why thoracic CT should accompany most soft-tissue studies.  18:00–18:45 — Big-dog abdomen workups: when CT beats ultrasound.  19:20–22:10 — CT vs. MRI: which modality to choose and when.  23:26–24:30 — Final takeaways + call for clinicians to consult the imaging team.  KEY TAKEAWAYS:CT provides far greater detail than radiographs, especially for pulmonary, abdominal, and oncologic cases. Small nodules and subtle abnormalities are frequently invisible on X-ray but obvious on CT. Cone-beam CT has its place (dentistry/skull) but cannot replace fan-beam CT for thorax or abdomen. CT-guided aspirates offer precise, safe sampling for challenging masses surrounded by air. 3D reconstructions and vascular studies improve surgical planning and owner decision-making. For elbows, carpi, and below-stifle issues → CT excels; for shoulders, hips, and neuro → MRI is preferred. Adding a thoracic CT when evaluating masses is cost-effective and often case-changing. Animal Imaging Veterinary Radiology Specialists: https://animalimaging.net/ (972) 869-2180 [email protected] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AnimalImaging/ Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/company/animalimaging Instagram:

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