Quantification of experimentally induced-pleural effusion in beagle dogs: Radiography versus CT and ultrasonography

Abstract

This study was performed to quantify the pleural effusion in radiography, ultrasonography and computed tomography(CT) and to evaluate and compare the usefulness of these methods. Normal saline of 10 ml/kg was infused into the pleural space until a final loading volume of 60 ml/ kg body weight was reached in six Beagle dogs. The radiographic examination was performed for the detection and quantification of pleural effusion. On the ultrasonographic study, the maximum perpendicular distance was measured between the surface of the lung and the thoracic wall to evaluate pleural effusion. On the CT image, pleural effusion was evaluated as the perpendicular distance to the thoracic surface in the maximum pleural effusion volume on any transverse images with soft tissue window. Statistical analysis was performed using linear regression test. The volume of pleural effusion and measurements of radiography and ultrasonography had no statistical relationship. However, a significant correlation was identified between the volume of pleural effusion and the depth at right (r2=0.715), left (r2=0.745), and mean right and left depth (r2=0.844) on the CT images. All of the thoracic radiographs, ultrasonography, and CT are useful in recognition of pleural effusion. In quantification of pleural effusion, the CT measurement method is superior to radiographic and ultrasonographic measurements.