TEACHING | Clinical Cases | Case Answer/Discussion

Case 1

Answer: Normal adult Basset Hound thorax. The cause for this patient's clinical signs is not apparent on the radiographs.

Discussion: The Basset Hound is an example of a "shallow-chested" breed. This thoracic conformation may give the false impression of cardiomegaly due to 1) the relatively small tracheospinal angle and 2) the "square" or "rounded" appearance of the heart, both of which are normal for this breed. In addition, the costochondral junctions of the Basset Hound indent the thoracic wall. This causes undulating bands of soft tissue opacity along the lateral margins of the thorax on the dorsoventral view. These bands can be mistaken for pleural effusion by the unwary. We know this patient does not have pleural effusion because no pleural fissure lines are present.